Acronyms List

Acronyms List

There is a wide group of acronyms that counselors and rehab facilities use in addiction treatment to describe levels of care, medications, support groups, online resources, and mental health disorders. This recovery acronyms list is a collection of the different types of acronyms used in addiction treatment. While reading information on this site, you can refer to the list for clarification of terms. These acronyms are universal and can be applied to most addiction treatment articles, websites, and facilities.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
AAMFT – American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
AAMR A – American Association on Mental Retardation
AATOD – American Association of the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
ACA/ACOA – Adult Children of Alcoholics
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL – Activities of Daily Living
ADM – Alcohol, Drug Abuse or Mental Disorders
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Al-Anon – Family Support Group for Alcoholics Anonymous
Al-Ateen – Child Support Group for Alcoholics Anonymous
ALOS – Average Length of Stay
AMA – American Medical Association
AMI – Alliance for the Mentally Ill
AMTA – American Methadone Treatment Association
ANA – American Nurses Association
AOD – Alcohol and Other Drugs
APA – American Psychological Association
ARBD – Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
ARND – Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder
ARNP – Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
ASAM – American Society of Addiction Medicine
ASAM PPC-2 – ASAM’s Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance-Related
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorders
ASI – Addiction Severity Index
ASPD – Antisocial Personality Disorder
ASSQ – Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire
ATOD – Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs
ATR – Art Therapist Registered
ATTC – Addiction Technology Transfer Center

B

BAC – Blood Alcohol Content
BAI – Beck Anxiety Inventory
BDD – Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BDI – Beck Depression Inventory
BHT – Behavioral Health Technician
BID – Twice a Day (Medication time)
BP – Bipolar
BPD – Borderline Personality Disorder
BSI – Brief Symptom Inventory
BT – Behavior Therapy

C

CA – Cocaine Anonymous
CAAPE – Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Assessment
CADC – Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
CAGE -Self-assessment instrument for drinking
CAP – Certified Addiction Professional
CARF – Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
CASA – Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (Columbia University)
CASI – Comprehensive Adolescent Severity Index
CASIA – Comprehensive Addiction Severity Index for Adolescents
CBT – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
CCHt – Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
CD – Chemical Dependency
CDC – Center for Disease Control and Prevention
CE – Continuing Education
CFR – Code of Federal Regulations
CHAMPUS – Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
CIWA – Clinical Indicators of Withdrawal Assessment
CIWA-Ar – Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol- Revised
CM – Case Management
CME – Continuing Medical Education
CMHC – Community Mental Health Center
CMHS – Center of Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)
CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CNS – Central Nervous System
COA – Children of Alcoholics
COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act
COC – Continuum of Care
COD – Co-Occurring Disorders
CODA – Co-Dependence Anonymous
CSAT – Center of Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA)
CTRS – Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

D

D.S.W. – Doctoral degree in Social Work
DAI – Drug Abuse Index
DAP Note – Data Assessment Plan Note
DARE – Drug Abuse Resistance Education
DBT – Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DCF – Department of Children and Families
DD – Developmentally Disabled (or delayed)
DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration
DETOX – Detoxification (related to Substance abuse)
DHS – Department of Human Services
DHSS – Department of Health and Senior Services
DID – Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder
DOC – Department of Corrections
DOE – Department of Education
DOH – Department of Health
DSM-IV-TR – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision
DT – Delirium Tremens
DWI – Driving While Intoxicated

E

EAP – Employee Assistance Program
EBD – Emotional/Behavioral Disorder
EBPs – Evidence Based Practices
ECG – Electrocardiogram
ECT – Electroconvulsive Therapy
ED – Eating Disorder
Ed.D. – Doctor of Education
EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EMDR – Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
EMR – Electronic Medical Record
ETOH – Alcohol

F

FAE – Fetal Alcohol Effects
FAS – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FASD – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FDA – Food & Drug Administration
FMLA – Family and Medical Leave Act
FTND – Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

G

GA – Gamblers Anonymous
GAD – General Anxiety Disorder
GAF – Global Assessment of Functioning
GHB – Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid
GLBTQ – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning

H

HAM-D – Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
HCFA – Health Care Financing Administration
HCRA – Health Care Reform Act
HEPA – Hepatitis A Virus
HEPB – Hepatitis B Virus
HEPC – Hepatitis C Virus
HHS – United States Department of Health and Human Services
HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
HRSA – Health Resources and Services Administration (www.hrsa.gov)
HS – At Bedtime (Medication time)
HUD – Housing and Urban Development

I

ICD-10 – International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,10th Edition
IED – Intermittent Explosive Disorder
IOP – Intensive Outpatient
IPR – Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation
IPT – Interpersonal Psychotherapy Model

J

JCAHO – Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

L

LCADC – Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor
LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LD – Learning Disabilities
LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LOC – Level of Care
LOS – Length of Stay
LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
LTR – Long-Term Residential

M

MA – Methadone Anonymous
MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving
MAOI – Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
MAST – Michigan Alcoholism Screen Test
MAT – Medication-Assisted Treatment
MBTI – Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
MCO – Managed Care Organization
MD – Medical Doctor
MDA – Methylene-dioxy-amphetamine (a synthetic psychedelic drug)
MDD – Major Depressive Disorder Diagnosis
MDI – Bayley Mental Development Index
MDMA – Ecstasy
MET – Motivational Enhancement Techniques or Therapy
MHT – Mental Health Technician
MI – Motivational Interviewing
MICA – Mentally Ill Chemical Abuser
MMPI – Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
MMR – Mild Mental Retardation
MMSE – Mini Mental State Examination
MPD – Multiple Personality Disorder
MSE – Mental Status Exam
MST – Multi-systemic Therapy
MSW – Masters in Social Work

N

NA – Narcotics Anonymous
NAADAC – National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors
NAMI – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
NAS – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
NASADAD – National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
NASW – National Association of Social Workers
NCADD – National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
NCADI – National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
NIAAA – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
NIDA – National Institute on Drug Abuse
NIH – National Institutes of Health
NIMH – National Institute of Mental Health
NMHA – National Mental Health Association
NP – Nurse Practitioner
NPI – National Provider Identifier

O

OA – Overeaters Anonymous
OCD – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OD – Overdose
ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OMT – Opioid Maintenance Therapy
OP – Outpatient
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT – Occupational Therapy
OTC – Over the Counter Medication
OTP – Opioid Treatment Program

P

PA – Physician’s Assistant
PAWS – Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms
PCP – Phencyclidine
PD – Personality Disorder
PDD – Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PDR – Physician’s Desk Reference
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy
PHI – Protected health information
PHP – Partial Hospitalization Program
PIP – Performance Improvement Plan
PO – Probation Officer
PPC – Patient Placement Criteria
PPO – Preferred Provider Organization
PRN – When needed (medication time)
PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
PT – Physical Therapy
PTSD – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Q

QA – Quality Assurance
QT – Heart Electrical Patterns

R

R.Ph. (RPh – Registered Pharmacist
RBt – Rational-Behavior Therapy
RCA – Root Cause Analysis
REBT – Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
REM – Rapid Eye Movement
RET – Rationale Emotive Therapy
RFP – Request for Proposals
RN – Registered Nurse
RPT – Relapse Prevention Therapy
RR – Rational Recovery
RTC – Residential Treatment Center
Rx – Prescribed Medication

S

SA – Sexaholics Anonymous
SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAI – Substance Abuse Initiative
SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAP – Substance Abuse Professional
SASSI – Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory
SDS – Symptom Distress Scale
SOAP Notes – Subjective Objective Assessment Plan
SPD – Shizoid Personality Disorder
SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance
SSI – Social Security Insurance Supplemental Security Income
SSI-SA – Simple Screening Instrument for Substance Abuse
SSRI – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
STD – Sexually Transmitted Disease

T

TAPS – Technical Assistance Publication Series (published by SAMHSA)
TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
THC – Tetrahydrocannabinol, Marijuana
TIPS – Treatment Improvement Protocol Series (published by SAMHSA)
TQM – Total Quality Management
TX – Treatment

U

UA – Urinalysis (for drug testing)
UCP – United Cerebral Palsy
UDS – Urine Drug Screen
UR – Utilization Review
UROD – Ultra-Rapid Opiate Detoxification

V

VA – Veterans Association

W

WAIS-R – Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised
WISC – Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children