A Comprehensive and Comparative Review of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Outcome
Date
2000
Authors
Williams, Robert J.
Chang, Samuel Y.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing
Abstract
There are relatively few studies on adolescent substance abuse treatment. The ones that exist tend to be methodologically weak. Methodologically stronger studies have usually found most adolescents receiving treatment to have significant reductions in substance use and problems in other life areas in the year following treatment. Average rate of sustained abstinence after treatment is 38% (range 30-55) at 6 months and 32% at 12 months (range 14-47). Variables most consistently related to successful outcome are treatment completion, low pre-treatment substance use, and peer/parent social support/nonuse of substances. There is evidence that treatment is superior to no treatment, but insufficient evidence to compare the effectiveness of treatment types. The exception to this is that outpatient family therapy appears superior to other forms of
outpatient treatment.
Description
Sherpa Romeo yellow journal. Permission to archive accepted author manuscript.
Keywords
Substance Abuse Treatment , Substance Abuse Youth , Adolescent , Substance abuse , Treatment , Drug , Outcome
Citation
Williams, R. J. & Chang, S. Y. (2000). A comprehensive and comparative review of adolescent substance abuse treatment outcome. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 7 (2), 138-166.