The Opioid Epidemic and the Need for Arts in Community Based Treatment Options: A Literature Review

Over the past three decades, the opioid epidemic has devastated communities and the lives of many around the US. The prevalence and complexities of substance use disorder continue to challenge clinicians to find effective treatment options for clients. The focus of this literature review is to develop support for using art therapy as a form of treatment for those with substance use disorder, to distinguish the benefits that community-based art therapy as a form of ongoing treatment could provide, and propose the need for further research that explores the use of community-based art therapy with those with substance use disorder. Research indicates that the benefits that art therapy provides match many of the unique treatment needs of those with substance use disorder. Additionally, research supports that art therapy can positively affect similar neuropathways that are negatively impacted but prolonged substance use. This research demonstrates that art therapy is a useful form of treatment that could counteract the negative neurological effects of substance use disorder and improve the quality of life for those with substance use disorder