Every September, National Recovery Month reminds us that healing from substance dependence is possible. But for recovery to last, it must move beyond crisis stabilization.
Substance use rarely exists in a vacuum. It often stems from emotional pain, unresolved trauma, or a long history of maladaptive coping strategies. What appears to be "the problem" is often just a symptom. The real work begins when we uncover what's driving the behavior underneath.
With decades of experience supporting justice and behavioral health professionals, the Carey Group's practical, evidence-based resources are designed to get to the root of the issue. Our suite of behavior intervention tools includes the Carey Guides and Brief Intervention ToolS (BITS). These tools are grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles and built for real-world use.
True recovery requires us to equip individuals with the skills needed to rewrite harmful patterns and choose a different path, one decision and behavior at a time.
Behavior Intervention Tools That Reveal the "Why" Behind Substance Use
Substance dependence is often a coping mechanism that masks deeper wounds. Addressing the behavior without exploring the cause is like treating a fever but ignoring the infection. That's why behavior intervention tools like The Driver Workbook are so essential to the recovery process.
The Driver Workbook is a behavior intervention tool designed to help individuals (and the professionals working with them) identify the real reasons behind substance use. Rather than focusing solely on abstinence, it allows clients to reflect on what's driving their behavior so that counselors can tailor interventions accordingly.
Uncovering Common Drivers Behind Substance Dependence
The Driver Workbook guides individuals in exploring critical questions about their behavior, uncovering key drivers such as:
- Unhelpful thoughts and beliefs (thinking traps)
- Poor problem-solving or stress management skills
- Difficulties with emotional regulation
- Negative peer influences
- Family and relationship challenges
Identifying these drivers is a crucial first step in developing an effective treatment plan. As the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes, more than 90% of adults with substance use disorders began using before age 18, making it even more vital to intervene early and with precision.
The Driver Workbook is a behavior intervention tool that can shift the focus from surface-level symptoms to underlying causes. When professionals use tools like the Driver Workbook in conjunction with client-centered support, they open the door to more meaningful and longer-term recovery strategies.
Cognitive-Behavioral Tools That Build Real Skills for Recovery
Carey Group offers powerful resources grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a method proven to support lasting recovery by reshaping harmful thoughts and behaviors. The Carey Guides and BITS are behavior intervention tools that translate CBT theory into everyday practice.
Each behavior intervention tool in the BITS collection is a single-page, low-barrier activity built for short, skill-focused sessions. These tools are ideal for staff who face time constraints but still want to deliver meaningful, evidence-informed support.
Relevant BITS tools for individuals facing substance use challenges include:
- Overcoming Thinking Traps – helps individuals recognize unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier, more accurate beliefs (rather than focusing on “distorted” or “excusing behavior”)
- Overcoming Automatic Responses as a key tool for addressing habitual, impulsive behavior
- Making a Decision supports weighing options and consequences before acting, strengthening everyday decision-making skills
- Who I Spend Time With to reflect on the impact of peer groups and social environments
Practitioners can introduce these behavior intervention tools wherever consistent intervention is needed most, whether that be in probation check-ins, reentry programs, or one-on-one counseling sessions.
Why Consistency Matters
According to the dosage probation model, recovery outcomes improve when behavioral interventions are present and when they are delivered in sufficient quantity. The right dose of CBT and skill-building interventions are most effective when targeted directly at the drivers of behavior—such as distorted thinking, peer influences, or poor coping skills— increasing the likelihood of treatment success and reduces the risk of recidivism.
The Carey Guides support this dosage-based approach with structured tools that build on each other over time. By targeting high-risk behaviors and thinking patterns in individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD), these tools increase the likelihood of successful program completion.
When both treatment and supervision agencies use the guides, they collectively increase the hours spent addressing criminogenic factors.
Linking Behavior Intervention Tools Together to Support Individuals Struggling with Substance Dependence
The previously mentioned Driver Workbook serves as the entry point to a modular system of behavior intervention tools that are tailored to each individual's needs.
Once a driver is identified, professionals can use the Carey Guides Linking Chart to map that insight to specific CBT-based intervention tools. Doing this guarantees that every next step in treatment is relevant and effective. For example:
- If stress is identified as a driver, tools like Managing My Anger or Relaxation Skills provide strategies for building emotional regulation..
- If peer pressure is a core issue, Who I Spend Time With or Peer Relationships can help individuals evaluate and adjust their social environment.
- If impulsive thinking is identified as a driver, tools like Problem Solving and Making a Decision support structured choices and strengthen cognitive skills.
Integrating the Carey Guides and BITS into SUD treatment allows counselors to create a personalized pathway to recovery for those they serve. Take the following case as an example.
Case Example: Maria, Age 23
Maria is a young adult referred to a community-based SUD program following a probation violation. During her intake, she used the driver workbook and identified that peers and peer pressure are a major driver of her substance use. Her counselor selects two BITS tools, Peer Relationships and Problem Solving, to help her practice real-life responses to social triggers and build skills for independent decision-making.
By using modular, evidence-informed behavior intervention tools, Maria's treatment plan becomes focused yet flexible to her unique situation. And for providers, the modular approach saves time while improving outcomes.
For professionals working with adolescents, or adults, additional training can strengthen the impact of these tools. The Contingency Management for Adolescent Substance Abuse course offers clinicians practical strategies and structured protocols to reinforce positive behavior change in youth. It's a powerful complement to behavior intervention tools like BITS and the Carey Guides.
Behavior Intervention Tools That Work in Probation, Drug Court, and Reentry Settings
Probation officers, drug court case managers, substance use treatment providers and reentry specialists are on the front lines of the recovery process. They often juggle high caseloads, time-crunched sessions, and clients at elevated risk of relapse. In these fast-paced environments, finding time for meaningful behavior change work can feel incredibly challenging.
That's why Carey Group's behavior intervention tools are designed to meet the moment.
The BITS tools, in particular, are excellent for short, focused interactions. Each guide zeroes in on a single skill or concept, making them easy to implement and impactful (even in 15-minute check-ins). For professionals stretched thin, this structure provides a practical solution for maintaining consistency with skill-based interventions.
These tools also support broader system goals. Whether you're navigating treatment court requirements or probation supervision, Carey Group's products provide a structured, research-backed approach that reinforces the core objectives of prevention and recovery. They enhance engagement, mitigate risky behaviors, and lay a foundation for long-term success without always requiring hour-long therapy sessions or extensive clinical expertise.
More importantly, they empower both clients and professionals. With each tool, clients gain insight into the drivers behind their substance use and develop fundamental skills that will help them on their path toward recovery. Professionals gain confidence as they see progress with every session.
Invest in Tools That Turn the Hope of Recovery into Reality
Recovery takes time. It requires a person to rewrite the thought patterns and behaviors that led them to substance use in the first place. That kind of change takes access to the right tools and a structured, supportive environment.
Carey Group's behavior intervention tools give justice and behavioral health professionals a practical framework for guiding that transformation. Rooted in evidence-based practice and built for real-world use, these tools support meaningful progress, not just compliance. Whether in probation settings, treatment courts, or community programs, they meet people where they are.
These EBP resources for community corrections foster insight and teach skills that lead to positive behavior change. Access our training bundles to equip your team with proven behavior change tools and strategies that support sustainable recovery and reduce recidivism.
Carey Group's evidence-based online training and consulting services address the needs of the justice system and behavioral health professionals. Training is an essential tool for keeping staff, supervisors, leadership, and stakeholders up to date with emerging knowledge and expectations for improved outcomes. Working closely with Carey Group professionals, agencies are better able to offer a mixture of in-person, online, and self-directed courses on evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, core professional competencies, case planning and management, continuous quality improvement, coaching, and the use of behavior-change tools and supervisor resources. Talk to a Carey Group consultant today to get started!