NCJ Number
207802
Journal
Addiction Volume: 99 Issue: 2 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 38-46
Editor(s)
Cherry Lowman
Date Published
November 2004
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report examines treatment outcome studies for alcohol and drug abusing adolescents from a process-oriented, developmental perspective.
Abstract
The study of treatment outcome and the process of change for adolescents with alcohol or drug problems are distinctly different from similar studies of adults with abuse or dependence. In evaluating adolescent alcohol treatment outcomes, research design and measurement require a developmental fit. This report focuses on the conceptual design and measurement issues imperative in optimizing the study of treatment outcomes for alcohol and drug abusing adolescents. Findings from developmentally focused longitudinal research of adolescent treatment participants and the existing literature on adolescent treatment outcome are reviewed. The report suggests modifications in the timing of procedures for and measures used in adolescent treatment outcome studies. In addition, it suggests that examining addiction treatment outcomes and predictors in the context of important developmental changes across the life-span and in temporal relation to such life transitions may facilitate the emergence of process models for both adolescent and adult relapse and long-term behavioral maintenance. Tables, references