The FDA approved the use of naltrexone, a medication developed to treat opiate addiction, in 1994. Research has shown that alcohol and opiates share similar pleasurable effects, which is why researchers believe that naltrexone is also effective in treating people with alcohol disease.

In the Westfall Associates program, people receive naltrexone plus counseling. People in the program can choose to obtain total abstinence, or to reduce drinking to a moderate level. The program design, while controversial in its tolerance of continued drinking, closely follows a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2001 showing the greatest efficacy came from the use of naltrexone plus a "coping skills" group rather than a "supportive" group that strongly advocated abstinence.

Those hoping to reach total abstinence must refrain from drinking for 30 days, after which they will be moved to abstinence-based treatment. If the goal is to reduce drinking, they must remain in the naltrexone program for 90 days after which they will be referred to other services. During counseling, patients will examine their drinking patterns, the consequences of their drinking, and will establish a safe environment for self-exploration, particularly regarding naltrexone and alcoholism treatment. Participants must be medically stable with an alcohol dependence diagnosis, and willing to take naltrexone and participate in a traditional treatment program. People in the program undergo a medical evaluation and sign an agreement establishing guidelines for participation.
Charles Montante, MS, CASAC, vice president of clinical services, and Gary Horwitz, MD, medical director, developed Westfall Associates' program. Montante had attended several meetings on best practices for treating alcoholism, and with Horowitz's help, built upon the body of knowledge developed by the field, integrating that research into this program. A positive review of naltrexone treatment for alcohol use disorders by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, a regularly updated collection of evidence-based medicine protocols, and a Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Treatment Improvement Protocol 28 (TIP), proved to be especially important resources.

Montante plans to ask the 45 programs in New York State's Region II Consortium of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Treatment Providers to refer people to Westfall's naltrexone group, as well as the nine programs in a Rochester-based recovery network and a local third-party payer. Westfall is also seeking funding to train the Region II Consortium members in naltrexone treatment.