Hythiam Partners With Relapse Prevention Specialist, Dr. Alan Marlatt to Develop...

Hythiam Partners With Relapse Prevention Specialist, Dr. Alan Marlatt to Develop
the OnTrak(TM) Psychosocial Program for Substance Dependence

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hythiam, Inc. (Nasdaq:HYTM)
announced today that the Company partnered with Dr. Alan Marlatt to develop the
OnTrak Relapse Prevention Program (ORPP), a proprietary, outpatient,
evidence-based psychosocial program that is a key component of the Catasys
integrated substance dependence offering. Dr. Marlatt is a professor of
psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a renowned researcher
in the field of relapse prevention alcohol studies and addiction. He has
published numerous books and articles on alcoholism, relapse prevention and
addiction, and has received multiple awards recognizing his contributions to
research and knowledge in the field of relapse prevention alcohol studies and
addiction. Dr. Marlatt worked closely with the Company to develop ORPP, an
outpatient program with a focus on integration of medical and care coaching
components, standardization, and the reduction of practice pattern variation.

"I was pleased to work with Hythiam to broaden their evidence-based psychosocial
program focused on relapse prevention, understanding that it would be integrated
as part of a larger program dedicated to treating substance dependence," said
Dr. Marlatt. "Their focus on integration and standardization, and their approach
to combining medical intervention with psychosocial and care coaching components
into a single program dedicated to helping substance dependent individuals
achieve and maintain recovery is consistent with the latest scientific
developments in substance dependence treatment. As part of current healthcare
reform is trending toward integration of behavioral and medical approaches,
Hythiam is at the leading edge of the curve in providing a distinct and
integrated program for substance dependence."

In addition to Dr. Marlatt, Dr. George Parks also participated in the
development of ORPP. Dr. Parks has served the University of Washington in
Seattle in various capacities, including faculty, research, student counseling
and administration. He has conducted significant research on alcohol abuse, and
serves as a technical advisor and consultant on evidence-based alcohol and drug
prevention and treatment for numerous organizations.

The OnTrak Relapse Prevention Program is designed to build on the benefits of
medical intervention in a unique way. The program requires training of Catasys
network providers and care coaches to reinforce and ensure relapse prevention
techniques are widely addressed, and therefore fully integrated into the medical
intervention. ORPP provides a sequence of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
and relapse prevention Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) modules designed to
maintain abstinence from alcohol and drugs. The ORPP treatment platform was also
built upon data from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). As such, ORPP has substantial empirical
support for its impact on the treatment of substance use disorders and is rooted
in evidence-based practice. As part of an effort to maintain standardization and
reduce practice pattern variation, all psychosocial providers in the OnTrak
network receive copyrighted workbooks and supporting materials, and are trained
to consistently deliver ORPP.

"We were pleased to work with Drs. Marlatt and Parks, and their support and
input into our evidence-based psychosocial program has significantly helped
strengthen integration of our Catasys offering," said Dr. Gary Ingenito, SVP of
Scientific Affairs for Hythiam. "During conversations with prospective customers
about Catasys, we are seeing increased recognition of the strength and value of
an integrated approach to substance dependence treatment. Catasys is a unique
program that continues to generate significant interest, and we look forward to
expanding the program to additional customers soon."

About Hythiam(R)

Hythiam, Inc. provides through its Catasys subsidiary, specialized behavioral
health management services to health plans, employers and unions through a
network of licensed and company managed healthcare providers. The Catasys
substance dependence program was designed to address substance dependence as a
chronic disease. The program seeks to lower costs and improve member health
through the delivery of integrated medical and psychosocial interventions in
combination with long term care coaching, including the proprietary PROMETA(R)
Treatment Program for alcoholism and stimulant dependence. The PROMETA Treatment
Program, which integrates behavioral, nutritional, and medical components, is
also available on a private-pay basis through licensed treatment providers.
Hythiam does not practice medicine or manufacture, distribute, or sell any
medications and has no relationship with any manufacturers or distributors of
medications used in the PROMETA Treatment Program. For further information,
please visit http://www.hythiam.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press
release are forward looking and made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that may cause
actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. These risk factors
include, among others, limited operating history and lack of statistically
significant formal research studies, the risk that treatment protocols might not
be effective, difficulty in developing, exploiting and protecting proprietary
technologies, intense competition and substantial regulation in the healthcare
industry; and additional risks factors as discussed in the reports filed by the
company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its
website at http://www.sec.gov.

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CONTACT: Hythiam, Inc.
Investor Relations:
Patricia Aguirre
(310) 444-4333
paguirre@hythiam.com