Literature Review Undergraduate 1,027 words

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Substance Abuse Treatment

~6 min read 6 sections Health · Substance Abuse

Abstract

This literature review examines the evidence base for animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as a complementary intervention in substance abuse treatment. Drawing on multiple peer-reviewed studies, the paper evaluates how AAT — particularly equine-assisted and dog-assisted therapy — supports treatment retention, reduces craving and anxiety, builds social support, and promotes goal-directed personal development in diverse patient populations, including at-risk youth and incarcerated individuals. The review concludes that AAT, viewed through an Adlerian lens, fosters a sense of responsibility and self-mastery that translates into improved outcomes for individuals recovering from substance use disorder.

Key Takeaways

Introduction to Animal-Assisted Therapy in Substance Abuse: Overview of AAT benefits and social support role
AAT and Treatment Engagement in At-Risk Youth: Dog-assisted curriculum helps youth develop self-control
Dog-Assisted Therapy for Incarcerated Drug Users: Controlled trial shows reduced craving and anxiety
AAT as a Supplementary Intervention for Substance Use Disorders: Mixed-methods review identifies moderating variables
Equine-Assisted Therapy and Treatment Retention: HAT significantly improves treatment completion rates
Conclusion: AAT fosters responsibility and Adlerian self-mastery

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What makes this paper effective

Each study is clearly summarized with direct quotations that anchor the analysis in the original sources, lending the review strong evidentiary support.
The paper synthesizes findings across multiple populations — youth, prisoners, and young adults — demonstrating the breadth of AAT's applicability.
The concluding paragraph ties the empirical findings to a theoretical framework (Adlerian psychology), giving the review a coherent interpretive lens.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates effective use of evidence integration in a literature review: each source is not merely cited but explained in terms of its methodology (e.g., controlled trials, mixed-methods designs, intention-to-treat analyses) and its specific contribution to the overall argument. This approach shows how to move beyond summary toward synthesis.

Structure breakdown

The review opens by establishing the general value of AAT and equine-assisted psychotherapy, then narrows progressively through specific populations and study designs. Each body section addresses one or two studies, and the conclusion draws all findings together under an Adlerian interpretation of self-mastery and personal responsibility. References follow APA format throughout.

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Essay 1,027 words

Introduction to Animal-Assisted Therapy in Substance Abuse

As Masini (2010) shows, animal-assisted therapy can be quite useful in helping patients engage in substance abuse treatment. Masini (2010) highlights the benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy in particular, as do Hauge, Kvalem, Berget, Enders-Slegers, and Braastad (2014), who note that engaging clients with horses can facilitate the perception of having stronger social support. As social support is a necessary component of overcoming or managing substance abuse, the animal-assisted intervention can be seen as a positive influence (Birtel, Wood, & Kempa, 2017; Muela, Balluerka, Amiano, Caldentey, & Aliri, 2017).

AAT and Treatment Engagement in At-Risk Youth

Animal-assisted therapy can have a positive effect on the engagement and retention of individuals in substance abuse treatment. Kelly and Cozzolino (2015), for example, have shown that at-risk youth have been aided by animal-assisted therapy in their attempts to overcome substance abuse. Animal-assisted therapy represents a "goal-oriented adjunct to traditional therapy programs" (Kelly & Cozzolino, 2015, p. 421).

The way in which it works is this: individuals struggling with substance abuse issues, such as poor self-control, "work through a structured, goal-oriented curriculum with certified therapy dogs and volunteer handlers…[to] complete progressively advanced tasks in which the youths transfer skills learned about dog handling to understanding and modifying their own behavior" (Kelly & Cozzolino, 2015, p. 421). In other words, animal-assisted therapy first focuses the individual's attention on how to care for and control an animal — and the lessons learned are then applied to the person to help them understand how to care for themselves. The idea is that by learning to care for an animal, the person develops life skills that allow for a better understanding of self and the need to monitor one's own habits by implementing skills learned through the animal-assisted therapy.

Dog-Assisted Therapy for Incarcerated Drug Users

Other researchers have noted similar positive outcomes when conducting experiments in which animal-assisted therapy was used to help drug users overcome addiction. Contalbrigo et al. (2017) conducted a controlled trial using a group of prisoners with substance abuse issues and a control group: the experimental group received dog-assisted therapy and the control group received traditional therapy. They found that "inmates involved in the dog assisted therapy sessions significantly improved their social skills, reducing craving, anxiety and depression symptoms compared to the control group" (p. 683). Animal-assisted therapy was thus found to be an effective co-therapy in helping drug-addicted inmates manage the side effects of detoxifying while in prison.

2 Sections Hidden · 270 words

AAT as a Supplementary Intervention for Substance Use Disorders100 words

Klemetsen and Lindstrom (2017) have also found that animal-assisted therapy has value as a supplementary intervention, offering substance abuse patients a way to learn to value goals and use a goal-directed approach to personal development. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach to better understand the impact…

Equine-Assisted Therapy and Treatment Retention170 words

Kern-Godal, Arnevik, Walderhaug, and Ravndal (2015) showed that equine-assisted therapy as a focus for helping young adults with substance abuse disorder has a positive effect as a complementary therapy. The researchers used an intention-to-treat design and conducted univariate and multivariate…

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Conclusion

In conclusion, animal-assisted therapy — and especially equine-assisted therapy — has been shown to be successful in helping individuals suffering from substance use disorder not only complete their therapy but also gain better control over their own lives. By taking the lessons learned from goal-oriented animal-assisted therapy and applying them to their own lives, clients learn how to care for animals and how to exercise discipline over them, which in turn gives them both a sense of empowerment and an understanding of what it takes to be disciplined with themselves. By taking a share of ownership over another living being, they assume a sense of responsibility that translates into how they see themselves — as agents of their own experience rather than passive recipients of unconscious urges and desires. From an Adlerian perspective, animal-assisted therapy makes sense as a practical co-intervention to support overcoming substance abuse.

References

Birtel, M. D., Wood, L., & Kempa, N. J. (2017). Stigma and social support in substance abuse: Implications for mental health and well-being. Psychiatry Research, 252, 1–8.

Contalbrigo, L., De Santis, M., Toson, M., Montanaro, M., Farina, L., Costa, A., & Nava, F. (2017). The efficacy of dog assisted therapy in detained drug users: A pilot study in an Italian attenuated custody institute. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7), 683.

Hauge, H., Kvalem, I. L., Berget, B., Enders-Slegers, M. J., & Braastad, B. O. (2014). Equine-assisted activities and the impact on perceived social support, self-esteem and self-efficacy among adolescents: An intervention study. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(1), 1–21.

Kelly, M. A., & Cozzolino, C. A. (2015). Helping at-risk youth overcome trauma and substance abuse through animal-assisted therapy. Contemporary Justice Review, 18(4), 421–434.

Kern-Godal, A., Arnevik, E. A., Walderhaug, E., & Ravndal, E. (2015). Substance use disorder treatment retention and completion: A prospective study of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) for young adults. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 10(1), 21.

Klemetsen, M. G., & Lindstrom, T. C. (2017). Animal-assisted therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders: A systematic mixed methods review. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 5, 90–117.

Masini, A., PhD. (2010). Equine-assisted psychotherapy in clinical practice. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 48(10), 30–34.

Muela, A., Balluerka, N., Amiano, N., Caldentey, M. A., & Aliri, J. (2017). Animal-assisted psychotherapy for young people with behavioural problems in residential care. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24(6), O1485–O1494.

Key Concepts in This Paper

Animal-Assisted Therapy Equine-Assisted Therapy Substance Use Disorder Treatment Retention Social Support Dog-Assisted Therapy Goal-Directed Learning Adlerian Psychology Therapeutic Alliance Self-Mastery