What This Is All About

It is my hypothesis that faulty cognitions (as might be addressed by the cognitive behavioral therapy currently used to treat substance abuse) play at most a minor role in the psychology of substance abuse disorders. Thus, it is really the management of behaviors, through such means as contingency contacts, skills training, motivational interviewing, and family-based treatments, that is really crucial to the treatment of these disorders, and the alleviation of human suffering. To this ends, I am reviewing the relevant literature to determine whether or not this is truly the case. If it is, then patients, as well as treatment providers, could benefit significantly from such findings, as could (if there are significant cost-savings involved) the healthcare system more generally!