Relapse prevention with adolescent substance abusers and their families

When adolescents enter residential treatment for difficulties experienced at school, with the juvenile justice system and/or their parent(s)r substance abuse is often not identified as a significant contributor to the presenting problem. However, the dynamics of adolescent substance abuse are described in the literature as interactive processes affected by family dysfunctions, inadequately learned coping skills and significant stressors. In this study, a treatment strategy was developed for families of adolescents in a residential treatment center setting, where adolescents, along with other identified problems were also determined to be actively abusing drugs and or alcohol. The treatment strategies focused on alcohol/drug abuse as a primary problem, and on relapse prevention through psycho education, family therapy and contingency contracting. Twelve adolescents and their families participated in the treatment program. A one year follow up was conducted. This thesis reports on four of these families indepth through the use of case studies. Comparisons and conclusions were drawn from the case studies which demonstrate that the treatment model is an effective auxiliary modality for use with substance abusing adolescents and their families.