The principles of effective intervention are identified and discussed, and suggestions are offered as to how they should be applied in the effort to reduce substance abuse and recidivism among drug court participants. The article first examines how the drug court model has become a therapeutic alternative to traditional court processing. Second, a review of the extant literature regarding the effectiveness of the drug court model is presented. Even though the current drug court literature is limited, the correctional treatment literature indicates that community-based treatment offers a distinct advantage over initiatives that rely on enhanced enforcement and incarceration; however, not all treatment programs are based on theoretically grounded principles. Research indicates that the quality and delivery of services are essential to effectiveness. Given the lack of research specifically devoted to drug court treatment programs, this article describes the research-based principles of effective intervention and their relevance to drug court practitioners. To increase their effectiveness, drug courts must consult the current literature regarding the principles of effective intervention and hold their treatment referrals to these standards. It is essential that drug courts develop detailed selection criteria, use a valid risk/needs assessment, and choose an effective theoretically driven treatment model. 52 references