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Family-Based Therapies for Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use: Research Contributions and Future Research Needs

NCJ Number
207805
Journal
Addiction Volume: 99 Issue: 2 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 76-92
Author(s)
Howard A. Liddle
Editor(s)
Cherry Lowman
Date Published
November 2004
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the advances made in a well-developed and research-based approach to adolescent substance abuse, specifically family-based therapy and identifies avenues for future therapy development and research activity.
Abstract
In adolescent substance misuse, family-based treatment is one of the most thoroughly studied treatment modalities with a number of family-based interventions having been developed, tested, and showing promise in treating substance-misusing adolescents. Family-based adolescent substance abuse treatment research has evolved significantly over the last 20 years. Family-based therapies have been identified as reducing drug abuse and correlated problem behaviors and in changing multiple areas of functioning related to the genesis and continuation of drug problems, including connection to deviant peers, school-related difficulties, and dysfunctional family environments. Process studies have found evidence for particular theory-based aspects of family oriented treatment, establishing family-based treatment as a viable and needed option for treatment providers in a variety of settings. By performing a selective and interpretative literature review and analysis, this paper characterizes the developmental status of the family-based adolescent alcohol and drug treatment therapy. References