The East tennessee assertive adolescent family treatment program: a three-year evaluation

Area of Science:

• Adolescent mental health
• Substance abuse treatment
• Family-centered interventions

Background:

• Adolescents and transition-age youth (12-24 years) often present with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
• Effective interventions are crucial for this demographic, addressing both behavioral and cognitive aspects.
• The Helen Ross McNabb Center serves this population within a regional mental health system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Assertive Adolescent Family Treatment Program.
• To assess the program's impact on substance use, criminal activity, and behavioral outcomes.
• To determine the program's influence on cognitive abilities and social support.

Main Methods:

• The study focused on adolescents (12-17) and transition-age youth (18-24) meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance abuse/dependence and co-occurring disorders.
• The Assertive Adolescent Family Treatment Program utilized specific intervention models.
• Outcomes measured included changes in illegal drug use, alcohol consumption, criminal activity, violent behaviors, cognitive ability, sexual behaviors, and social interaction.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in illegal drug use, alcohol consumption, criminal activity, and violent behaviors were observed.
• Participants demonstrated an increase in cognitive ability.
• A decrease in risky sexual behaviors and an increase in supportive social interactions were also noted.

Conclusions:

• The Assertive Adolescent Family Treatment Program demonstrates success in improving outcomes for adolescents and transition-age youth with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
• The intervention models employed are effective.
• Further research in East Tennessee is recommended to generalize findings and build a stronger evidence base.