Because it concentrates on behavior change, behavior therapy is very effective in treating substance use disorders. Addictions that have been successfully treated with behavior therapy include Alcohol Use Disorder, smoking, drug addiction, and other addictions. Many methods come under the umbrella of behavior therapy, all of which employ the systematic use of scientifically created principles of learning that focus on changing behavior. Most psychoanalysis will concentrate on the emphasis that past experiences have had on current behavior, however, behavior therapy is different in that it concentrates on present behaviors as well as prior behaviors. The client's overt and present maladaptive behaviors are the center of attention in behavior treatment according to behavioral therapist.

Classical conditioning (also known as Pavlovian conditioning) is one type of behavioral therapy that was developed by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist who created a framework for the classical conditioning model. Classical conditioning suggests that a neutral stimulus continually coupled with a stimulus that produces a response, will soon start producing that response even after the stimulus is taken away. For example, Pavlov tested his theory on dogs by placing meat powder in a dog's mouth (which caused salivation) and then ringing a bell. Eventually, Pavlov was able to take the meat powder away and ring the bell and still have the dog salivate. In his test, the meat powder represented the stimulus, and the bell represented the neutral stimulus.