The evidence supporting CBT has been generated from single-site studies, as well as from some of the landmark multisite studies of addiction treatment, including Project MATCH and Project COMBINE for alcohol (Anton et al., 2006; Project MATCH Research Group, 1997), the NIDA Cooperative Cocaine Treatment Study (Crits-Christoph et al., 1999), and the Marijuana Treatment Project (MTP Research Group, 2004). One of the distinguishing features of CBT has been its relative durability of effects, with significant treatment effects persisting through a follow-up period, in some cases with individuals showing greater improvement after treatment ends (i.e., ‘sleeper effect’) (e.g., Carroll et al., 2000; Carroll et al., 1994b; Rawson et al., 2002). It has also shown to be effective in combination with pharmacotherapies for substance use (e.g., Carroll et al., 2004; Schmitz, Stotts, Rhoades, & Grabowski, 2001), and has been a widely-used platform for pharmacotherapy trials, in other words, the ‘base’ treatment provided to all participants to enhance treatment retention and medication adherence, and to address other ancillary problems (Carroll, Rounsaville, & Kosten, Carroll, 1997; 2004).
