Adolescent Intervention Strategies (From Addiction Intervention: Strategies to Motivate Treatment-Seeking Behavior, P 87-100, 1998, Robert K. White, Deborah G. Wright, eds. - See NCJ-171025)

• NCJ Number: 171030
• Author(s): J Crowley
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This article discusses approaches to early intervention for substance abusing adolescents.

Abstract

The structured intervention format used with family members confronting an adult substance abuser, which is designed to urge the person to accept treatment, is too much too soon for most adolescents. When interventions are done incrementally, beginning with the least disruptive, time-consuming and expensive steps, many adolescents are able to make the necessary changes and avoid the more extensive steps that could involve long absences from home and school. Although effective early intervention programs can be established in or with the help of many systems (e.g., criminal justice, religious, service agencies), a school-based program provides the greatest leverage for intervening into problems adversely affecting young people. The chapter focuses on early incremental intervention programs in schools, with the understanding that parents and other systems need to and should be actively involved. The article also chronicles the methodologies of student assistance programs and teams, and offers clinical and treatment considerations.