The approaches are to be used to supplement or enhance not replace existing treatment programs. This section is not a complete list of efficacious, scientifically based treatment approaches. Additional approaches are under development as part of NIDA's continuing support of treatment research. Relapse Prevention , a cognitive-behavioral therapy, was developed for the treatment of problem drinking and adapted later for cocaine addicts. Cognitive-behavioral strategies are based on the theory that learning processes play a critical role in the development of maladaptive behavioral patterns.
Individuals learn to identify and correct problematic behaviors.
Relapse prevention encompasses several cognitive-behavioral strategies that facilitate abstinence as well as provide help for people who experience relapse. The relapse prevention approach to the treatment of cocaine addiction consists of a collection of strategies intended to enhance self-control. A central element of this treatment is anticipating the problems patients are likely to meet and helping them develop effective coping strategies. Research indicates that the skills individuals learn through relapse prevention therapy remain after the completion of treatment. In one study, most people receiving this cognitive-behavioral approach maintained the gains they made in treatment throughout the year following treatment.