Family Response to Adolescence, Youth and Alcohol

• NCJ Number: 220126
• Journal: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 25 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 27-41
• Author(s): Judith L. Fischer Ph.D.; Boyd W. Pidcock Ph.D.; Barbra J. Fletcher-Stephens Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special issue on Familial Responses to Alcohol Problems, for related article see NCJ-220125.

Annotation

This review highlights three aspects of adolescent alcohol use and misuse that have ramifications for families: (1) adolescent disinhibition; (2) substance-specific parenting factors; and (3) non-substance-specific parenting factors, and focuses on three integrated family-based treatment models: Multisystemic Therapy (MST), Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), and Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT).

Abstract

The integrated family-based therapies share a number of assumptions in that the adolescent is understood to be embedded within a complex array of interconnected biopsychosocial systems that encompass the individual, family, and extra familial, such as school, peers, and community factors. These therapies focus on accurately assessing multiple influences and targeting effective intervention strategies designed to support changes throughout a number of systems that affect and serve to reinforce or support the adolescent’s problem behaviors. The general treatment approaches of the cited family-based therapies focus on accurately assessing the multiple influences and targeting effective intervention strategies designed to support the adolescent’s problem behaviors. The models are grounded in a thorough research-based knowledge of key contextual issues in both adolescent and family development. In summation, the integrated family-based models of treatment are representative of some of the most innovative and effective approaches developed and currently being implemented. The focus in this literature review is on family response to adolescents and youth and alcohol. Because adolescents often use and abuse alcohol together with other substances, this review includes research related to the issue. Research within the framework of the biopsychosocial model is considered and highlights intervention to ameliorate family and adolescent problems with adolescent alcohol use and misuse. References