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Adolescent treatment. Implications for assessment, practice guidelines, and outcome management
P E Bergmann1, M B Smith, N G Hoffmann
1New Standards, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Pediatric Clinics of North America
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Adolescent substance abuse treatment is effective, reducing substance use and associated problems. Continued support and early physician identification improve long-term recovery outcomes for young people.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Adolescent Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent substance abuse is a significant public health concern.
- Formal treatment shows positive outcomes, but continuity of care is crucial for sustained recovery.
- Physicians can play a vital role in early identification and referral.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of adolescent substance abuse treatment.
- To identify areas for improvement in treatment and continuum of care.
- To emphasize the role of physicians in early detection and referral.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of treatment outcomes, including substance use frequency and associated problems.
- Exploration of factors predicting treatment success, such as pretreatment characteristics.
- Review of referral sources and physician involvement in identifying at-risk adolescents.
Main Results:
- Treatment leads to significant reductions in substance use and related school/legal issues.
- Continuing care, including support groups and re-entry plans, enhances recovery.
- Physicians are underutilized as referral sources despite high healthcare utilization by adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent substance abuse treatment is effective and benefits from integrated care.
- Physician screening and timely referral are essential for earlier intervention.
- Further research into patient-treatment matching can optimize recovery outcomes.