Abstract

Although results from multiple studies conducted over the last two decades indicate that Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) is an effective treatment for married or cohabiting alcohol- and drug-abusing patients, both in terms of reduced substance use and improved relationship satisfaction, it is unclear whether BCT or other types of couples-based interventions are used in community-based substance abuse treatment programs. In the present study, program administrators (e.g., executive directors, clinical directors, staff physicians) from 398 randomly selected community-based outpatient substance abuse treatment programs in the U.S. were interviewed regarding use of different family- and couples-based therapies in their programs. According to the program administrators, 27% of the programs provided some type of couples-based treatment. However, less than 5% of the agencies used behaviorally oriented couples therapy and none used BCT specifically. Recommendations for researchers and clinicians to increase the use of BCT in community-based treatment programs are provided.