Addiction treatment saves multitudes of lives every day in this country, sets patients and their families on the road to wellness, and without it, a chronic and frequently fatal brain disease will go untreated. Still, addiction treatment is not perfect, and there are indeed bad actors who must be stopped. But we must not forget about the good guys! The recent piece by the Wall Street Journal rightly pointed out systemic flaws within the marketing and operation of treatment programs, frequently called rehab, that are dangerous and must be addressed. The concern with the criticism, however, is that it paints an entire field of healthcare as flawed and corrupt, and that is a very dangerous message. It is also untrue.
Thousands of addiction treatment programs in this country market and operate transparently, legally, and ethically, using evidence-based practices under the supervision of licensing and accrediting bodies. To proliferate the erroneous notion that addiction treatment is fundamentally flawed or that treatment operators as a group are corrupt will will steer suffering patients and their families away from seeking the help they need from the very people whom are most capable of giving it. These headline-making stories of a minority of the worst of us must be balanced with the best of us! Addiction in America is a national healthcare crisis and properly nuanced reporting will go a long way toward addressing the crisis.
Here at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), we work tirelessly to promote and develop ethical, effective operations, and our many hundreds of members abide by these NAATP values. We also hold our members accountable and have removed members who fail to abide by our code. Our members are also committed to evolving as a young field must, and towards that end, we operate the Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE), which advances research, outcomes measurement, and transparency in addiction care.
NAATP is a professional membership society of addiction treatment providers whose mission is to promote values-based access to high-quality care and to support those who provide it. NAATP treatment providers are a community of healthcare facilities that must be licensed for all services in all locations, accredited for the same, and must abide by a strict Code of Ethics enforced by a rigorous complaint process. Further, NAATP has promulgated a manual, the NAATP Quality Assurance Guide, 2nd Edition, which defines the core competencies of addiction treatment—from marketing to treatment to continuing care and, includes 49 operational guidelines that ensure high-quality, ethical care. NAATP’s Addiction Industry Directory exists as an ethical, transparent resource featuring vetted providers who have demonstrated compliance with our standards.
The Path Forward
Addiction treatment saves lives, families, and communities. Our field is not defined by its worst actors but by the thousands of professionals who provide compassionate, science-based care every day.
At NAATP, we believe that how you market is as important as how you treat. Ethical practice is not optional and is a foundation of legitimate healthcare. Through our Code of Ethics, FoRSE research, and the Quality Assurance Guide, we continue to strengthen this profession with both heart and evidence.
The Wall Street Journal’s reporting raises important concerns, but the story of addiction treatment cannot end there. It must also acknowledge the progress, professionalism, and lifesaving work of the good guys, the dedicated providers who make recovery possible.
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About the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP)
The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is the national trade association that champions addiction and mental health treatment providers by driving excellence in operations and clinical practice. Since 1978, NAATP has advanced ethical standards, evidence-based care, and professional collaboration across the behavioral health industry.
NAATP’s mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, training, and member support services that ensure the equitable availability and highest quality of addiction treatment. Through initiatives in best practices, outcomes research, policy advocacy, convening, and workforce development, NAATP empowers more than 320 member organizations operating 1,000+ facilities nationwide.
Members adhere to the NAATP Code of Ethics and Quality Assurance Guidelines, ensuring integrity, transparency, and patient-centered care.
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