A Continuum of Care
Evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders is an effective approach to improving public health and public safety. While some individuals involved with the justice system receive “treatment,” the nature and quality varies tremendously with no assurance that such treatment is effective or grounded in research. Treatment can be as informal as educational materials, mutual-help to lectures or discussions to more formal inpatient in a specialized treatment program. There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to treatment to consider and this section explains what “treatment” is and what components are necessary for it to be effective.