Definition:

Building upon the concepts of the Stages of Change model, the Stages of Treatment framework is part of the Substance Abuse Treatment Scale (SATS) and provides a reliable, observable, behaviorally defined approach to monitoring and reporting the progress of dual diagnosis clients throughout the change process. The involved stages are as follows:

  1. Pre-Engagement: The client has had only irregular contact with an assigned case manager or counselor, and meets criteria for a substance use disorder.
  2. Engagement: The client has had only irregular contact with an assigned case manager or counselor, and meets criteria for a substance use disorder.
  3. Early Persuasion: The client has regular contacts with a case manager or counselor, continues to use the same amount of substances or has reduced substance use for less than 2 weeks, and meets criteria for a substance use disorder.
  4. Late Persuasion: The client has regular contacts with a case manager or counselor, shows evidence of reduction in use for the past 2-4 weeks (fewer substances, smaller quantities, or both), but still meets criteria for a substance use disorder.
  5. Early Active Treatment: The client is engaged in treatment and has reduced substance use for more than the past month, but still meets criteria for a substance use disorder during this period of reduction.
  6. Late Active Treatment: The person is engaged in treatment and has not met criteria for a substance use disorder for the past 1-5 months.
  7. Relapse Prevention: The client is engaged in treatment and has not met criteria for a substance use disorder for the past 6-12 months.
  8. In Remission or Recovery: The client has not met criteria for a substance use disorder for more than the past year.
To view a 4-minute demonstration video, navigate to the Dartmouth Dual Diagnosis Center page and follow the Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders Videos link, or go directly to the YouTube Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders Playlist link, and scroll down to the 4th video menu option entitled, “Practice Demonstration Video – Stages of Change & Treatment”.
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Recovery addiction SUD Substance Use Disorder Resource treatment SATS Substance Abuse Treatment Scale relapse Stages of Change