Brief intervention for drug-abusing adolescents in a school setting

Psychol Addict Behav. 2007 Jun;21(2):249-54. doi: 10.1037/0893-164X.21.2.249.

Abstract

This study evaluated the use of 2 brief interventions (BIs) to reduce drug use among 14- to 17-year-olds identified in a school setting as drug abusers. Students (N = 79) were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 target conditions: 2 sessions with the adolescent only (BI-A), 2 sessions with the adolescent and 1 with the parent (BI-AP), or an assessment-only control condition (CON). Follow-up assessments of 78 participants done 6 months post-intervention showed that the adolescents in the BI-A and BI-AP conditions generally had superior outcomes on their drug use behaviors compared with the CON group. Also, those receiving the BI-AP had better outcomes on most outcome variables compared with adolescents receiving BI-A. The 6-month abstinence rates did not differ across groups. The potential value of a school-based BI for students with a substance abuse disorder is discussed.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation*
  • School Health Services*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • United States / epidemiology