National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Principles of Effective Addiction Treatment Guide and Follow-up Quiz

Professionals in the field of addiction medicine, including ours at Two Dreams, use the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) “Principles of Effective Treatment Guide” as a reference to ensure that clients receive the high quality care they deserve.

Read through the NIDA’s research-based ideologies below and take our quiz afterwards to see how well you understand the key points. Try to answer the questions without looking back at the list for answers! Visit the NIDA website for more information.

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)

1. Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.
2. Treatment needs to be readily available.
3. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use.
4. An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that the plan meets the person’s changing needs.
5. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.
6. Individual or group counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction.
7. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
8. Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
9. Medical detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
10. Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
11. Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
12. Treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place themselves or others at risk of infection.
13. Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment.

NIDA Principles of Effective Addiction Treatment: Quiz

1. True or False: Treatment should be made readily available to everyone
2. True or False: Effective treatment of addiction focuses solely on the individual’s drug use
3. How often should treatment and service plans be assessed and modified?
   1. Never
   2. Continually assessed and modified as needed
   3. Once every week
   4. Once every month
4. True or False: The length of time an individual stays in treatment is inconsequential as long as they acknowledges their addiction
5. True or False: Individuals taking medication need to engage in behavioral therapy as well.
6. How should addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders be treated?
   1. Addiction should be addressed before mental disorder(s)
   2. Mental disorder(s) should be addressed before addiction
   3. Addiction and mental disorder(s) should be addressed in an integrated way
   4. Individuals should be referred out to different professionals for treatment of each diagnosis
7. True or False: Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
8. Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored…
   1. Once every day
   2. Once every three days
   3. Once every week
   4. Continuously
9. Which of the following assessments is unnecessary for a treatment center to provide?
   1. HIV/AIDS
   2. Hepatitis (B and C)
   3. Tuberculosis
   4. None; treatment centers should provide assessments for all of the above
10. True or False: A month-long stay at a treatment center is usually enough to ensure long-term abstinence.
11. Which method of behavioral treatment is appropriate for every individual?
    1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    2. Multidimensional family therapy
    3. Motivational incentives
    4. None of the above; no single treatment is appropriate for all individuals
12. Medical detoxification is…
    1. Only the first stage of addiction treatment, and by itself does little to change long-term drug use
    2. A mandatory prerequisite for enrolling in an inpatient treatment program
    3. An effective method of treatment in itself for many individuals
    4. A waste of time, since it does not address the root of the addiction
13. Why are drug abusers at risk for relapse even after long periods of abstinence?
    1. They don’t understand or care about the consequences
    2. They are weak-willed
    3. Addiction treatment never works
    4. Drugs of abuse create long-lasting changes in the user’s brain structure and function

Answer Key

1. TRUE. All individuals should have easy access to treatment.
2. FALSE. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use.
3. B. An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that the plan meets the person’s changing needs
4. FALSE. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.
5. TRUE. Individual or group counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction. Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
6. C. Co-occurring disorders should be treated in an integrated manner to improve outcomes.
7. TRUE. Individuals can still experience successful outcomes after involuntary admission.
8. D. Possible drug use must be monitored continuously in order to ensure maximally effective outcomes for each individual.
9. D. Treatment programs should provide assessments for a wide variety of infectious diseases, and offer counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place themselves or others at risk of infection
10. FALSE. Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment
11. D. No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.
12. A. Medical detoxification is a necessary first step for many individuals, but is not effective by itself since it does not address the root of the addiction. It is not a mandatory prerequisite, nor is it a waste of time for individuals who need to clear their minds and bodies of abusive substances before entering a treatment facility.
13. D. Addiction is a disease that is treatable, but complex. Drugs of abuse can create irresistible cravings that users give in to even against better judgment. “Addicted” is not synonymous with “weak-willed” or “stupid” or “stubborn” and treatment has been scientifically proven to be effective for many, many individuals.