How Good Are the Best Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatments?
Drug and alcohol abuse dependence are the most prevalent causes of adolescent illness and death in the United States, and treatment for adolescents with substance abuse problems is urgently needed. But researchers who set out to evaluate some of the most highly regarded treatment programs now in place found that many of them lack some or all of the elements considered essential for successful outcomes. To determine exactly what a good adolescent substance abuse program should include, the researchers surveyed the literature and talked to an advisory panel of 22 experts in the field. They came up with nine characteristics to look for in a program, including: • Assessment and treatment matching. Programs should conduct comprehensive assessments that cover psychiatric, psychological, and medical problems; learning disabilities; family functioning; and other aspects of the adolescent’s life, and treatment should then be matched with the needs that have been identified; • Comprehensive, int
