For outcomes to improve we need to move beyond the status quo and think about how to better address addiction and other behavioral disorders. The current system is focused on in-patient treatment for the individual addict. This system is not working.
The model we use, and we advocate others adopt, is derived both from the success of the pilot and physician programs and the fact that addiction is a chronic disease needing on-going management. It is also based on long-standing experience that addiction is a family disease. For those with money, the definition of family extends to advisors, business entities, trustees, managers and anyone else who has regular contact with the addict, such as household help.
Treatment Systems for the Disease: New Model Compared to Existing Treatment
New (Pilot/Physician) Existing
Disease vs. Individual Flaw or Moral Failing
Chronic vs. Episodic
Managed vs. Emergency
Family vs. Individual
Expected vs. Surprise
Discussed vs. Secret
Private Pay vs. Insurance
Engagement vs. Abandonment
Prevention vs. Chance
Almost all treatment centers and most families are on the right side of this diagram. If your family addict or alcoholic has gone through several treatments and relapses, you need to move to the lefts side for recovery to be effective for your loved one.
One of the counseling tasks for professionals is to work with families to move them to the left side of the diagram because their thinking is directed to the right side by treatment center and almost all interventionists.
Also, very few treatment centers are willing to adjust their process or services to accommodate the left side approach to addiction and recovery. This means finding good treatment is difficult.
Our New Model reflects both increasing and uncontroverted evidence that addiction causes modifications in the brain requiring a long-term approach to recovery.
See: Addiction – Alcohol and other Drug Use and Concurrent Recovery Monitoring: Treatment of Addiction for more on this topic.