Brief intervention for drug-abusing adolescents in a school setting: Outcomes and mediating factors Article

Winters, KC, Fahnhorst, T, Botzet, A et al. (2012). Brief intervention for drug-abusing adolescents in a school setting: Outcomes and mediating factors . JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, 42(3), 279-288. 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.08.005

cited authors

  • Winters, KC; Fahnhorst, T; Botzet, A; Lee, S; Lalone, B

authors

abstract

  • This randomized controlled trial evaluated the use of two brief intervention conditions for adolescents (aged 12-18 years) who have been identified in a school setting as abusing alcohol and other drugs. Adolescents and their parents (N = 315) were randomly assigned to receive either a two-session adolescent-only (BI-A), two-session adolescent and additional parent session (BI-AP), or assessment-only control condition (CON). Interventions were manually guided and delivered in a school setting by trained counselors. Adolescents and parents were assessed at intake and at 6 months following the completion of the intervention. Analyses of relative (change from intake to 6 months) and absolute (status at 6 months) outcome variables indicated that for the most part, adolescents in the BI-A and BI-AP conditions showed significantly more reductions in drug use behaviors compared with the CON group. In addition, youth receiving the BI-AP condition showed significantly better outcomes compared with the BI-A group on several variables. Problem-solving skills and use of additional counseling services mediated outcome. The value of a school-based brief intervention for students is discussed. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

publication date

  • April 1, 2012

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 279

end page

  • 288

volume

  • 42

issue

  • 3