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Substance Abuse Treatment for Youth

Find resources on treatment services that are geared toward adolescents affected by substance use problems.

Treating Teens: A Guide to Adolescent Drug Programs (PDF - 1160 KB) Drug Strategies (2003) Outlines the key elements of effective adolescent drug treatment and provides information on 144 adolescent drug programs, including an in-depth look at seven promising programs that reflect a variety of treatment approaches. Also view the companion website. Evidence-Based Program Database Center for Learning Excellence, Ohio State University (2007) Compilation of government, academic, and non-profit lists of evidence-based programs that seek to change youth behaviors. Search results can be sorted by program impact on reducing substance abuse.

Blamed and Ashamed: The Treatment Experiences of Youth With Co-Occuring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders and Their Families
The Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (2001)
This youth-led study examined the opinions of youth and family members regarding community resources, the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on daily life, the effectiveness of residential treatment and aftercare, and their involvement in treatment decisions.

Changing Systems: Outcomes From the RWJF Reclaiming Futures Initiative on Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse
Butts & Roman (2007)
Examines the quality of substance abuse treatment services for youthful offenders at 10 locations across the country.

Counseling and Treating Adolescents With Alcohol and Other Substance Use Problems and Their Families
Fagan
The Family Journal, 14(4), 2006
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Examines strategies for assessing and diagnosing adolescents with substance use problems as well as how to design interventions and treatment programs for these adolescents and their families.

Family-Based Treatment Models Targeting Substance Use and High-Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents: A Review
Thompson, Pomeroy, & Gover
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 2(1), 2005
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Reviews interventions that have considerable empirical support for treating adolescent substance abuse as well as preventing substance use.

Multisystemic Therapy and Neighborhood Partnerships: Reducing Adolescent Violence and Substance Abuse
Swenson, Henggeler, & Addison (2005)
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Discusses ways to combine the use of multi-systemic therapy with neighborhood partnerships in order to develop effective interventions for troubled youth exhibiting criminal behaviors and substance abuse.

The Quality of Highly Regarded Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs: Results of an In-Depth National Survey
Brannigan, Schackman, Falco, & Millman
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 158(9), 2004
This study defined nine key elements of effective adolescent substance abuse treatment and then rated the ability of over 140 programs to address those elements, identifying areas for the improvement of treatment programs.

The Reclaiming Futures Initiative: Improving Substance Abuse Interventions for Justice-Involved Youth
Butts & Roman (2007)
Results from a study of the initiative suggest it is a useful model for promoting effective partnerships between juvenile justice agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, and community groups.

The Relative Effectiveness of 10 Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs in the United States (PDF - 765 KB)
Drug Policy Research Center, RAND Corporation (2006)
Examines 10 Adolescent Treatment Models programs funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to determine whether there is any evidence of relative treatment effects.

Treatment Effectiveness With Dually Diagnosed Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Bender, Springer, & Kim
Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 6(3), 2006
Reviews clinical trials of interventions for adolescents with both substance abuse and mental health diagnoses and derives preliminary guidelines for treating these adolescents based on treatments shown to be most effective.

Updated on November 19, 2008