SMRS ascribes to the principles and practices of social rehabilitation. The social rehabilitation approach is one in which addiction is viewed as being centered in the reciprocal relationship between the individual and his/her surrounding social unit.

Problems are considered to be not only individual problems, but problems of families, communities and society. The social rehabilitation approach provides levels of service/treatment in non-institutional settings, ranging from alternatives to acute inpatient care to supported independent living programs, socialization, and vocational services. Each level of service is designed to meet the needs of the resident at a particular level of treatment. The resident may move through each level toward reengagement with the family at a rate individualized to his/her specific needs.