Mixed Substance Use/Dependence
Section Authors:
Lisa Najavits (Chair, Division 50 EST Workgroup)
Nancy Piotrowski (Workgroup member), Greg Brigham (former Workgroup member)
Ashley Hampton (Workgroup student coordinator), Matthew Worley (former Workgroup student coordinator)
Psychological Treatments
- Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and MET plus Cognitive Behavior Therapy (strong research support)
- Prize-Based Contingency Management (strong research support)
- Seeking Safety (strong research support for adults, modest research support for adolescents)
- Friends Care (modest research support)
- Guided Self-Change (modest research support)
Note: Other psychological treatments may also be effective for mixed substance use/dependence, but they have not been evaluated with the same scientific rigor as the treatments above. Many medications may also be helpful for mixed substance use/dependence, but we do not cover medications in this website. Of course, we recommend a consultation with a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis and discussion of various treatment options. When you meet with a professional, be sure to work together to establish clear treatment goals and to monitor progress toward those goals. Feel free to print this information and take it with you to discuss your treatment plan with your therapist.