Social learning-based treatment

To make learning about these models and theories easier, w e have organized them into five major categories (there are specific variations within the categories) moral model, American disease model, biological model, social learning model, and sociocultural model. Each model has implications for designing treatment of the substance-use disorders. Our discussion is based heavily on chapters by Miller and Hester (1989, 2002). 

Another technique that seems to be effective in treating illicit drug users is couples or family treatment (Stanton Shadish, 1997). It is notable that the community reinforcement approach includes a family/couples (conjoint) component that is based in social learning principles (sec Table 15.4). 

In conclusion, structured programs that are based in social learning theory, as well as conjoint treatment, are nonmedical interventions that seem to enhance outcomes in the treatment of drug-use disorders. Our earlier discussion showed that treatment of alcohol-use disorders also is improved with these interventions. This seems to warrant their continued application and study in alcohol and drug treatment programs. 

The model of etiology of alcohol and drug use disorder that a treatment is based on affects its design. We review five models in this chapter moral, American disease, biological, social learning, and sociocultural. 

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