Substance dependency treatment for adolescents: practice and research

This paper reviews the more common treatment approaches that address adolescent substance abuse and the spectrum of problems which often attend involvement with drugs. The most common outpatient treatment approaches for adolescents are 12-step based programs and family-based therapies which may be used separately or in conjunction with each other. The therapeutic community is a residential approach, characterized by the use of the peer community itself to facilitate social and psychological change in individuals. Both outpatient and residential modalities have demonstrated effectiveness in working with adolescents. Ideally, the type of intervention will depend upon the young person's needs, in particular the extent and effects of his/her drug use, as well as the level of other problems. Overall, treatment must address a range of concerns of special relevance to adolescents because of their age and dependency status; for example, developmental stage, cultural issues, and gender issues.