Substance abuse day treatment and managed health care.

Day treatment for substance abusers has been viewed by many as a viable treatment modality, particularly in light of the success of psychiatric day treatment programs. The available research also supports the efficacy of day treatment versus inpatient treatment for substance abusers. Nevertheless, day treatment programs for substance abusers have had difficulty gaining acceptance with treatment providers and patients alike. This paper offers several explanations for this lack of acceptance and proposes that managed care settings are ideally suited to pioneer substance abuse day treatment programs. Practical suggestions will also be offered to help market this treatment modality and minimize patient resistance.