NCJ Number
207803
Journal
Addiction Volume: 99 Issue: 2 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 47-62
Editor(s)
Cherry Lowman
Date Published
November 2004
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report examines the current state of adolescent alcohol treatment research and the enhancement of future research from the perspective of methodological issues.
Abstract
The intent of this report is to provide an overview of several aspects of the field of adolescent alcohol treatment research and to discuss several priorities for future research directions. The report begins with an overview of adolescent alcohol use and treatment within the framework of developmental considerations specific to adolescence. The report then discusses the principles of harm reduction and their potential application to the problem of adolescent alcohol misuse and provides a rationale for and examples of the development of adolescent alcohol interventions across a range of intensities and settings. Methods for increasing the reach and relevance of adolescent alcohol treatment research are presented followed by a discussion of ethnicity and cultural factors and methods for enhancing treatment and research retention. As possible areas for treatment tailoring, several individual differences factors are reviewed which include: concurrent illicit drug and tobacco uses, co-occurring mental health problems, gender, and cognitive factors. Finally, a discussion is presented of the potential contribution in adopting a trans-disciplinary perspective. In conclusion, future research on adolescent alcohol abuse treatment should focus on increasing the reach and relevance of treatment approaches which entails examining alternative approaches for adolescents in the early stages of adolescent alcohol abuse who do not require inpatient or other intensive treatments. References