Key Terms

Another term for outpatient care. You are not admitted to a facility and leave after your appointment.

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Alcohol use disorder

Cognitive behavioral therapy encourages clients to question and examine recurring thoughts in order to learn to recognize and change their maladaptive behaviors. It is often a component of treatment for substance use disorder.

In Pennsylvania, a Center of Excellence is a community-based care management team that specifically supports people with opioid use disorder.

The CRS/CFRS credential is for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders or family members of people suffering from SUDs who wish to help others move into and through the recovery process by providing peer support.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in Pennsylvania

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are treatment programs used to address addictions that do not require detoxification or round-the-clock supervision.

Sometimes referred to as residential treatment, inpatient treatment provides care 24 hours a day in a non-hospital setting.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide treatment of substance use disorders. MAT is primarily used for alcohol and opioid use disorders.

This is the clinical name for "detox." Medically supervised withdrawal is the process of eliminating drugs and/or alcohol from the body. During this process, medical professionals carefully monitor the withdrawal experience, providing medication to manage the severity of withdrawal symptoms as needed.

Outpatient program. You are not admitted to a facility, and leave after your appointment.

Opioid use disorder

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

​Pennsylvania drug and alcohol treatment programs are administered through county offices called Single County Authorities. These programs can help with treatment funding, assess the need for treatment or other services, and connect county residents to treatment options.

Also called peer-based recovery support, or mutual-help organizations, these are free, peer-led (not professional) groups that help individuals with substance use disorder. Self-help organizations include: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), SMART Recovery, All Recovery groups, and online forums.

Substance use disorder

Recovery Community Organizations

The seamless transition between emergency medical care to substance use disorder treatment