Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-based Practices are treatment and prevention interventions related to mental health and substance abuse, shown by evidence to be effective.

Some of the most common Evidence-Based Practices used in addictions treatment include:

  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Brief Treatment
  • Trauma-informed care/treatment
  • SBIRT - Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

Other practices that are considered evidence-based are:

  • Culturally-responsive care (including responsiveness to gender, age, religion, ethnicity, heritage, culture, orientation and other factors)
  • Housing First
  • Co-occurring Disorder treatment
  • Person-centered planning, client-driven care, shared decision-making
  • Prevention
  • Process Improvement

In implementing an evidence-based practice, it is key to maintain fidelity to the model the developers of the intervention used. Often a manual provides specific direction for implementation and use of the intervention.

In April 2018, SAMHSA launched the Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (Resource Center) that aims to provide communities, clinicians, policy makers, and others in the field with the information and tools they need to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings.  The Resource Center contains a collection of science-based resources and is part of SAMHSA's new comprehensive approach to identify and disseminate clinically sound and scientifically based policy, practices, and programs. 

Go to the Training Resources page for additional choices.