A good program can show you its care on paper before your loved one arrives: a written plan built from a full assessment, a weekly schedule that names real therapies and who leads them, a clear answer on medication, and follow-up appointments booked before discharge. Brochures and photos can’t tell you any of that.
Use this page as a yardstick for any program, at any price. When you’re ready to call, take our admissions-call questions with you.
What does “evidence-based” actually mean?
It means the approach has been studied and shown to help people change their substance use. It doesn’t mean one method suits everyone; NIAAA says plainly that no single treatment will benefit everyone.2 Counseling and behavioral therapy are part of most treatment plans.3 Care should cover medical needs, mental health and practical things like housing and work, and the plan should be adjusted as needs change.12 The ASAM Criteria, which clinicians use to match people to a level of care, build in regular reassessment and weigh the person’s own preferences and barriers to care.9
Our own advice: detox is a first step, not the plan. Withdrawal care keeps someone safe, so ask what comes after it.
What should every good program include?
We built this list from the sources cited on this page.129 A sample treatment plan and a weekly schedule should answer most of it.
Good-care checklist: what can this program show us?
- Before treatment starts
- The treatment itself
- Family and life outside
- Leaving well
Which therapies have research behind them?
SAMHSA’s quality checklist names cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing among the practices to look for.1 For alcohol problems, NIAAA adds contingency management and family counseling.2
| Therapy | What it is, in plain English | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | Learning to spot the thoughts, feelings and situations that lead to use, and practicing other ways to cope | Builds skills for everyday situations that can trigger use27 |
| Motivational interviewing / motivational enhancement | A non-judgmental conversation that helps a person find their own reasons to change | Strengthens motivation and confidence to change2 |
| Contingency management | Small, real rewards, such as vouchers, for verified progress like negative drug tests or showing up | Evidence-based for stimulant use disorder, which has no FDA-approved medication8 |
| Family and couples therapy | Sessions that include family, as your loved one agrees1 | For alcohol problems, raises the chances of not drinking compared with individual counseling2 |
If meth or cocaine is the main problem, ask every program whether it offers contingency management. And if your loved one isn’t in treatment yet, a skills-based method called CRAFT helps families encourage someone who resists help.
You may also hear about the Matrix Model, a structured outpatient approach for stimulant use that SAMHSA publishes materials on.7 Art, yoga and fitness can be pleasant parts of the day. Ask what proven therapy sits underneath them.
Where does medication fit?
For opioid or alcohol use disorder, a good program offers FDA-approved medication or keeps your loved one on what they already take. SAMHSA tells families to ask about it,1 and notes that medication combined with counseling improves survival and helps people stay in treatment.6
Don’t assume a program offers these medications, or will let your loved one keep one they already use. If they take buprenorphine or methadone, get written confirmation before admission that it will continue without a gap; SAMHSA advises talking with a doctor before stopping these medications.6 Our guide to medications for addiction explains each one.
Does good care treat mental health too?
It should. The adult ASAM Criteria expect every program to be at least “co-occurring capable”: able to assess mental health conditions, plan for both and refer when more is needed.10 Read how addiction and mental health are treated together, including what “co-occurring enhanced” programs add.
Does a higher price mean better care?
No. SAMHSA’s signs of quality are licensing and accreditation, evidence-based practices, family involvement, help with other parts of life, and FDA-approved medication. Price and amenities aren’t on the list.1
Say Maria is comparing two residential programs for her son, who uses meth. One sends photos of the pool and promises “a holistic approach,” but never sends the weekly schedule she asks for. The other emails it the same day: individual CBT twice a week, daily skills groups, contingency management, a weekly family session and a psychiatrist on site each week. The second one costs less. She chooses it.
How long should treatment last?
Often months, across more than one level of care. SAMHSA notes that feeling better may take a few months, and residential care alone usually lasts a few weeks to a few months.35 NIAAA says continued follow-up is critical for many people.2 See how families can plan for the weeks after rehab.
How can we tell if a program really does this?
Since every program says it is evidence-based, ask questions that need a concrete answer.
Ask this instead
“Do you use evidence-based therapy?”
“Which therapies will my son get each week, how often, and who leads them?”
“Do you treat mental health?”
“Who diagnoses and treats depression or anxiety here, and how often do they see patients?”
“Is family involved?”
“How often are family sessions, and what do we need to sign so you can talk with us?”
“Do you have aftercare?”
“Before discharge, will you book the next appointments, and with whom?”
Ask what license each clinician holds. Therapy is usually led by a licensed behavioral health professional,3 such as a psychologist, clinical social worker, licensed counselor or family therapist, and the rules vary by state.4 The program should also be able to name the doctor who oversees medical care.
Be wary of shaming, yelling, cutting someone off from family as punishment, or talk of “breaking someone down.” That isn’t therapy. NIAAA says a good approach avoids heavy confrontation and offers empathy and motivational support.2 Our page on rehab red flags covers the other warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
Are AA and other 12-step groups evidence-based?
They’re peer support groups, not professional treatment. NIAAA says that alongside treatment from health care providers, mutual-support groups can add a valuable layer of support.2 Some programs use 12-step facilitation, a counseling approach that helps people get involved in these groups.2 Compare options in our guide to support groups and peer recovery.
Is it a bad sign if our loved one uses during treatment?
Not necessarily. NIAAA says setbacks are common and suggests asking every program how it handles a return to use.2 A good program adjusts the plan or changes the level of care rather than discharging someone with nowhere to go. Ask about this before admission.
Our loved one only wants medication, not therapy. Is that still treatment?
Yes, it can be. NIAAA notes that alcohol use disorder medications can be used alone or with other treatment.2 Counseling adds skills, so encourage both, but don’t make medication wait on therapy.
Sources
- SAMHSA — Quality Treatment for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol (last updated 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/finding-quality-treatmen… — accessed Oct 2026
- NIAAA — Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help (updated February 2025). niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol… — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Treatment Types for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol (last updated 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/types-of-treatment — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Types of Health Care Providers: Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol (last updated April 24, 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/types-of-providers — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Treatment: What to Expect? (last updated April 24, 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/what-to-expect-from-trea… — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorder (updated August 2025). samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Stimulants (updated November 2024). samhsa.gov/substance-use/learn/stimulants — accessed Oct 2026
- CDC Division of Overdose Prevention — Stimulant Guide: Answers to Emerging Questions About Stimulants in the Context of the Overdose Epidemic (2024). cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/media/pdfs/2024/03/cdc-stimulant-guide.pdf — accessed Oct 2026
- American Society of Addiction Medicine — The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition (2023). asam.org/asam-criteria/asam-criteria-4th-edition — accessed Oct 2026
- American Society of Addiction Medicine — ASAM Criteria FAQ. asam.org/asam-criteria/criteria-faq — accessed Oct 2026