Meeting Youth Where They Are: Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Schools

Providing school-based mental health treatment offers an opportunity to reach a greater number of affected youth by providing services in the setting where youth spend the majority of their time. In some contexts, even a single session of assessment has been linked with significant decreases in substance use; however, more robust treatments are likely needed to sustain these decreases over time. Empirically based individual and group treatments designed for delivery in clinic settings can readily be adapted for implementation in school settings. School-based delivery of substance use services offers an important opportunity to bridge a significant gap in services.