Addiction Treatment Terms and Definitions

Addiction is a treatable though chronic mental health disease that requires ongoing relapse prevention. Addiction to a substance occurs when a person continues to routinely and compulsively use a substance despite its detrimental effects on their overall well-being.

Also known as physical dependence, this is a physical state that occurs when a substance is used so frequently that the body can no longer function without it. Along with tolerance, dependence is one of the hallmarks of addiction.

Although addiction is used as an umbrella term, substance use disorder (SUD) is the named diagnosis for addiction and substance abuse according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Diagnosis of this disorder requires certain behavioral patterns that indicate lack of control over substance use, risky use, physical dependence, and continued use despite detrimental effects.

Tolerance is a physical state that occurs when the same amount of a substance no longer has the same powerful effect. Tolerance leads people to take higher and higher doses over time, increasing the likelihood of dependence and addiction.

Withdrawal occurs when a person is physically dependent on drugs and alcohol. Generally, trying to cut back use leads to uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms because the body can no longer function normally without that substance.

Coinsurance refers to the percent of health costs that the insured person is responsible for paying after the deductible. For instance, a coinsurance of 20% means that after the deductible is met, the patient must pay 20% of all costs and the insurance company pays the remaining 80%.

A copayment, or copay, is a set price determined by the insurance company that individuals have to pay when they use a medical service. For instance, the copay for a doctor visit may be set at $50 per visit.

The deductible is the amount an insured person is required to pay before the insurance company begins covering expenses. For instance, if the deductible is $500 and you incur $1,700 in medical expenses, you must pay $500 and the insurance is responsible for the rest.

In-network is the designation for healthcare providers that are contracted with your insurance company to provide services to insured people. Some insurance companies will only cover in-network providers or may charge higher fees for the use of out-of-network providers.

Medicaid is insurance provided by the government for free or at a relatively low cost to individuals with a low income and limited resources. This includes retired adults, the elderly, and low-income families.

Medicare is free healthcare that is provided by the federal government to people who are disabled or who have reached the age of retirement.

Out-of-network providers are those who are not contracted to work with a specific insurance. They may be more expensive to visit or may not be covered at all by insurance.

Out-of-pocket refers to expenses that an insured person is responsible for paying. These include all payments such as copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and other fees. Some insurance companies offer out-of-pocket maximums to limit the amount that the insured individual must pay.

A premium is the monthly cost of health insurance. This number is usually higher if the deductible and copay are lower. If the premium is low, deductibles and copays are usually higher.

Aftercare is an important part of addiction treatment that occurs after a treatment program has been completed. An aftercare plan requires ongoing engagement in resources and activities that help prevent relapse.

Alumni programs are those that are made up of people who have completed treatment at the same facility. This helps keep individuals in touch with others who are in recovery to promote their well-being. Alumni programs may include regular meetings, workshops, or other resources.

Relapse refers to an episode during which a person uses drugs or alcohol after a period of sobriety. A misconception about addiction treatment is that relapse represents a failure. However, since addiction is a chronic condition, relapse is a common part of the process.

Sober living refers to communities where a person who struggles with addiction can stay after treatment instead of immediately returning home. In these sober living facilities, individuals undergo routine drug testing to ensure they remain accountable for their recovery.

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of addiction treatment that is also one of the requirements for licensing. Providers of addiction treatment are required to maintain patient identity, diagnosis, and treatment confidential.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This law regulates the disclosure of health information, allowing patients to control how their medical information can be used and who it can be shared with. The law limits healthcare providers from sharing a person’s medical information without their consent.

12-Step facilitation therapies help motivate individuals to stay involved in 12-Step programs by encouraging ongoing participation and engagement.

12-Step programs are some of the most widely available group therapies for addiction. In a 12-Step program, group members share their substance abuse experiences with each other during therapy sessions and can provide support and relapse prevention outside of therapy through sponsorship. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are well-known examples of 12-Step programs. Many 12-Step programs have a spiritual or religious component to support recovery.

SMART Recovery support groups are similar to 12-Step programs with an emphasis on self-empowerment and no spiritual or religious component. SMART Recovery motivates change, teaches relapse prevention strategies, and helps manage unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.

Virtual support groups are growing in popularity due to their flexibility. These addiction support groups are held online and can provide ongoing support for those in recovery.

Evidence-based treatments, whether medical or psychological, are those that have been scientifically reviewed and found to be effective. Rigorous testing means that clinicians know the circumstances in which that treatment is the most efficient.

Individualized treatment is one of the best ways to treat addiction, because the treatment plan is designed according to a person’s individual needs including substance abuse history, co-occuring mental health issues, and other factors.

Recovery is often misunderstood to mean the end result of substance abuse treatment. However, since addiction is a chronic condition, recovery refers to the continuous process of abstaining from substance use and commitment to one’s well-being.

Specialized treatment is addiction treatment that is accommodating of special populations. For instance, addiction treatment for minority or LGBTQ individuals may require specialized treatment that is able to sensitively handle issues related to their identity.

Biofeedback therapy is designed to help people learn to control automatic physical processes like heart rate. Gaining the ability to focus on these processes can improve well-being and physical and mental health.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a blend of the cognitive and behavioral modalities. This therapy helps people identify both maladaptive patterns of thinking and behaving in order to take concrete steps to improve those thoughts and behaviors.

Contingency management is a therapy that uses rewards as incentives to maintain sobriety and other healthy habits. Tokens or vouchers are used as rewards in contingency management. These vouchers may be used for larger rewards to give individuals something to work toward.

Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT) focuses on providing individuals with the skills they need to manage their emotions and improve social relationships. One of the key elements of this therapy is learning to accept certain things that may be uncomfortable while focusing on things that should be changed.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique used to desensitize individuals who have experienced trauma to their triggers. Through this therapy, individuals are able to process difficult emotions related to their trauma. In substance abuse, this is usually used in conjunction with other treatments for individuals whose substance abuse is linked to traumatic experiences.

Family therapy is used in addiction treatment to address how addiction and substance use affects everyone in the family unit. This therapy can help family members learn to better support individuals with substance abuse and can heal relationships strained by addiction.

Group therapy is a major part of addiction treatment because it helps people find others in similar situations who they can support and feel supported by through the recovery process. During group therapy, individuals take turns speaking and sharing their experiences with substance abuse.

Holistic therapies are those treatments that focus on improving the whole person rather than addressing only mental health issues. This may involve activities like meditation, mindfulness, and yoga that promote mental and physical well-being as a whole.

Medication-assisted treatments (MATS) refer to any substance abuse treatment that involves the use of medications to either reverse the effects of substances or help a person wean off their substance use using a safer substance. Examples of MATs include methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone that are prescribed for opioid use. Acamporosate and disulfiram are used to treat alcohol abuse.

Motivational interviewing (MI) helps increase a patient’s motivation to quit through deliberate questioning. Through MI, individuals learn to resolve contradictory feelings about addiction and intensify their resolve to stop using.

Pharmacogenetics refers to the study of how genetic factors influence the way individuals respond to specific medications. This can be used to uncover drug treatments that are most effective for an individual but also are least likely to have adverse effects.

Pharmacotherapy refers broadly to the use of medication to treat disorders. When treating addiction, doctors may use pharmacotherapy to help reduce withdrawal symptoms or as a safer alternative to a more dangerous illicit drug.

Psychoeducation is one of the key components of addiction treatment, emphasizing teaching relapse prevention skills and stress management so that individuals are better able to understand their addiction and triggers in order to overcome them.

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) has a similar aim as cognitive therapy in that it is designed to change maladaptive thoughts and emotions. However, it approaches this through more direct challenges of maladaptive reasoning.

Seeking Safety is a therapeutic modality that emphasizes the importance of safety and security rather than investigating the issues that underlie trauma or substance abuse. It can be used in individual or group therapy to help individuals gain a sense of safety.

CARF is the Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities, which accredits addiction treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, retirement homes, and other services. To obtain CARF accreditation, programs must meet a certain standard, demonstrating that they provide quality and effective medical services.

Chemical dependency treatment facilities are those that are licensed to provide addiction treatment services.

The Joint Commission provides accreditation for healthcare providers, certifying that they meet necessary standards. As the oldest and largest accrediting body, it helps improve standards of care and ensure patient safety and well-being.

Inpatient treatment is one of the most intensive because it requires individuals to stay for an extended period of time at an addiction treatment facility where they can receive care full-time. Inpatient treatment typically follows medical detox.

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are a lower level of care from a PHP because the treatment schedule may be as little as 3 to 6 hours per day from 3 to 7 days a week. Individuals in IOPs have generally already completed programs at higher levels of care and can work full-time and spend a significant amount of time at home.

Medical detox is the first step in addiction treatment to help individuals get clean. During medical detox, individuals are monitored round-the-clock and their withdrawal symptoms are managed in order for them to safely wean off the substances they are addicted to.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are outpatient programs that provide intensive care for up to 8 hours a day every day. Though individuals in PHPs are able to spend nights at home, they are still in a relatively high level of care.

Residential treatment also requires that a person reside at the addiction treatment center but there is less of a focus on medical intervention, making it a lower level of care. Residential treatment is structured to include a full-time program of therapy and wellness activities.

Outpatient treatment is the lowest level of care. This type of addiction treatment provides ongoing support that may include regular therapy or group meetings without requiring such an extensive time commitment.