By We Level Up | Editor Yamilla Francese | Editorial Policy | Research Policy

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction

Addiction shows a pattern of behavior that goes against what the person wants to do. Many people want to change their addictive behaviors. They may want to quit alcohol, drugs, or other harmful habits. However, they often find it very hard to do so. In cognitive-behavioral therapy, addictive behaviors come from wrong thoughts and negative feelings. These behaviors include drinking, drug use, problem gambling, compulsive shopping, video game addiction, food addiction, and other harmful actions.

CBT Therapy For Addiction Effectiveness

Benefits Of CBT For Addiction

People with substance or alcohol use disorder often struggle with negative feelings or thoughts. These can make recovery more difficult. CBT helps people find and change unhelpful thoughts. This can improve their outlook and support long-term recovery.

Research suggests that CBT skills are enduring and can also be applied in other areas of an individual’s life. About 60% of people who get cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for substance use problems can stay sober for a year.

Which Types Of Drug Addiction Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treat?

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat addiction to many drugs. However, research shows it works better for some types of substance abuse than others. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that cognitive behavioral therapy is a proven method for treating drug addiction

The best treatment outcomes were associated with marijuana. After that, cocaine and opioids saw the best results. However, the smallest effects were witnessed in individuals with poly-substance, or polydrug, dependence. This means that people who struggle with addiction to more than one substance may benefit from different therapies. A mix of treatments or online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be part of a flexible recovery plan.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to produce long-lasting results when used to treat various types of addiction. The article mentioned a study. It found that 60% of patients in the CBT group had clean toxicology screens after 52 weeks

Role Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction In Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a research-based treatment. It helps with many mental and physical health problems. These problems often happen with addiction, along with substance abuse. Just as negative thoughts feed addictive behaviors, they also worsen the symptoms of certain mental illnesses. If these mental illnesses aren’t addressed and treated, they can worsen the addiction or trigger relapse. When a person has a mental health and substance use disorder, they may need treatment for both. This treatment often uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a base for effective care.

Mental illness and addiction are often closely connected. In many cases, one causes or aggravates the other. If only one disorder is treated, the other can trigger. For example, a person might drink alcohol to avoid feeling hopeless due to depression. If their depression is not treated, they may end up drinking again.

Examples of mental health disorders that have shown success when treated with CBT therapy for addiction:

Research shows that the skills people learn in cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction stay with them after treatment ends. Current research aims to create stronger effects by combining CBT with medications for drug abuse and other therapies. A computer-based CBT system has been developed to help reduce drug use after standard treatment. This idea works well with methods like trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT builds on the work of those who created cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is suitable for people who have both trauma and drug problems.

Further, CBT has been shown to reduce symptoms relating to chronic pain. This can be particularly helpful for people who first began drug abuse to self-treat pain. Unfortunately, opioid painkiller abuse frequently begins this way. For these individuals, alternative pain management forms are essential to building sobriety and a strong recovery. By easing some of these symptoms, the pain is lessened. This reduces the urge for self-medication and drug abuse. Maintaining sobriety is a difficult journey. Long-term success can come from therapies like this.

Other Supplemental Therapies

Another big benefit of CBT for addiction is that it combines different therapy styles. This helps clients get more services. For example, many CBT therapists utilize aspects of the following orientations in their sessions:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Substance Use Disorders Treatment

You are in luck if you are interested in starting cognitive behavioral therapy for addiction. Mental health professionals trained in CBT are easy to find. This is because CBT has a strong reputation for being effective with many issues. Most outpatient and inpatient programs you attend will have skilled CBT therapists on staff.

The best news is that CBT is a very low-risk approach. The odds of something harmful happening during a CBT session are minimal. Suppose you are unsure whether addiction, depression, anxiety, or other issues negatively impact your life. A CBT therapist can look at your situation and symptoms. They will check if you meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. CBT therapists work with people looking to achieve more from life and with severe mental health and substance use issues.

We Level Up specializes in the treatment and recovery of co-occurring disorders. If you are worried about someone with drug addiction and needs CBT therapy, we are here to talk. We can also provide support and resources. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment professionals. Our specialists know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation.

Top 5 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Studies with Insights

Here’s a patient-friendly chart of the top Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) studies/guidelines.

Here is a helpful list of trusted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) studies and guidance. You can use these in clinical documents, program pages, or treatment guides. Each row distills the evidence’s implications for treatment into actionable tips for care teams and admissions scripts. Sources were chosen for recency, rigor, and relevance to integrated treatment.

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Study	Treatment Implications	Insights for Patients
Carroll, K. M., & Onken, L. S. (2005). Behavioral Therapies for Drug Abuse View Study	Supports CBT as a gold‑standard therapy. Suggests combining CBT with other behavioral methods (like contingency management) enhances effectiveness.	Patients benefit most from CBT when it’s combined with other tools. Engagement and consistency are key to success.
Magill, M., et al. (2019). Combined CBT + Medication for Co‑occurring Disorders View Resource	Studies show that integrated treatment (CBT + pharmacotherapy) leads to better outcomes in dual diagnosis cases.	If you have both addiction and mental health issues, CBT can help with medication for long-term recovery.
Najavits, L. M. (2002). Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD & Substance Abuse Read Article	Introduces trauma‑informed CBT model for patients with PTSD + SUD. Promotes stabilization & coping over processing trauma.	If you have experienced trauma, trauma-informed CBT (like Seeking Safety) can help you feel safe as you recover.
Dutra, L., et al. (2008). Meta‑analytic Review of Psychosocial Interventions for SUDs Read Study	Confirms CBT as one of the most effective psychosocial treatments across multiple substances.	CBT is well-known and flexible. It helps many people and is often the first choice for treating substance use disorders.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Regular Methamphetamine Use in Methadone Treatment Read Review	This shows that even short CBT interventions can significantly reduce use and dependence. They also improve psychological well-being and social functioning in people treated with methadone.	If you are on methadone or another maintenance program and using methamphetamine, short CBT may help. It can reduce use and improve your mood, readiness to change, and overall functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

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