Current developments in psychosocial treatments of alcohol and substance abuse.

This article reviews recent findings and new developments in alcohol and substance abuse treatment over the past 2 years. Outcome results from two large clinical trials: Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity) for alcohol dependent patients; and the National Institute on Drug Abuse Collaborative Cocaine Treatment Study for cocaine dependent patients; and the naturalistic Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study have yielded important results on the possibility of patient treatment matching. The promising community reinforcement approaches have been expanded to opiate dependent and homeless populations. Finally, a number of studies point to the important role of self-help groups and the power of 12-step-based treatment approaches.