ABSTRACT
In most, if not all, areas of scientific inquiry, knowledge is useful only to the extent that it can be applied. It seems fitting, then, that application serves as the centerpiece of discussion in this, the final chapter of a book on substance abuse treatment. Commencing with a review of factors that should probably be considered in structuring one's interactions with clients, this chapter is designed to assist clinicians with the difficult task of applying knowledge obtained through a theoretical analysis of the drug lifestyle. The first section presents ways to enhance the comprehensiveness, specificity, efficiency, flexibility, relevance, stimulatory power, and instructional value of the intervention. This is followed by a dialogue on how the information contained in this book can be efficaciously shared with clients. The perceived advantages and disadvantages of the individual, group, and programmatic methods of conducting substance abuse interventions are thoroughly examined. In the third section, case study material is introduced in an effort to demonstrate specifically how the assessments and interventions described in this book apply to individual clients. Several issues requiring further attention, study, and reflection with respect to the continued development of the lifestyle paradigm are scrutinized in the final section of this chapter.
