Adolescent substance abuse results in significant negative outcomes and extraordinary costs for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric comorbidity among substance abusing youth range from 25% up to 82%, and youths with a dual diagnosis are more than twice as costly to treat compared to those with no comorbidity. Community-based treatment for these youth most often is disjointed, with youth and families having to navigate separate treatment systems for the disorders or only receiving treatment for a single disorder. Notably, multiple studies have shown that youth with co-occurring problems have worse outcomes and return to pre-treatment levels of substance use more often and more rapidly than those without a psychiatric diagnosis. The applicant principal investigator, a new investigator, recently completed a NIDA-funded Stage I project focused on developing and piloting a psychosocial treatment specifically for youth presenting for outpatient treatment with co-occurring substance use and internalizing (i.e., mood and/or anxiety) problems. Results were promising with the experimental group exhibiting significantly less substance use and more rapid reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to the control group. In addition, extensive treatment and therapist training manuals were generated. The proposed research is a Stage II randomized clinical trial (RCT) to compare the experimental treatment (OutPatient Treatment for Adolescents;OPT-A) to an """"""""active placebo"""""""" on key clinical indices from pre-treatment through 18 months. The proposed RCT (n = 160) employs the treatment manual, quality assurance protocol, and therapist training protocol developed and successfully piloted in the Stage I study, to evaluate the efficacy of OPT-A for youth referred to outpatient treatment of co- occurring substance use and internalizing problems. The following outcomes will be evaluated: drug use; mental health;behavioral, school, peer, and family functioning;and consumer satisfaction. In addition to providing a strong test of treatment efficacy, the proposed project will leverage the data collection of the RCT to provide a preliminary evaluation of putative mechanisms of action. In summary, this study will advance a promising treatment developed through the Stage I behavioral therapies development program to a Stage II controlled trial. It builds on the treatment manual, therapist training materials, and quality assurance system already developed. The intervention addresses one of the more prevalent and most challenging, costly, and understudied presenting problems among adolescent outpatients. If successful, this research could provide a considerable contribution in the treatment field for youth with co-occurring substance use and internalizing disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Adolescent substance abuse results in significant negative outcomes and extraordinary costs for youths, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, rates of psychiatric comorbidity among substance abusing youth range from 25% up to 82%, and youths with a dual diagnosis have worse outcomes and are more than twice as costly to treat than their counterparts with no comorbidity. This project evaluates OPT-A, a treatment that had promising results in NIDA-funded pilot testing, in a rigorous clinical trial. 1

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA025616-04S1
Application #
8452214
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Chambers, Jessica Campbell
Project Start
2009-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$70,800
Indirect Cost
$22,800
Name
Medical University of South Carolina
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
183710748
City
Charleston
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29425
Metzger, Isha W; Salami, Temilola; Carter, Sierra et al. (2018) African American emerging adults' experiences with racial discrimination and drinking habits: The moderating roles of perceived stress. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 24:489-497
Metzger, Isha W; Blevins, Claire; Calhoun, Casey D et al. (2017) An examination of the impact of maladaptive coping on the association between stressor type and alcohol use in college. J Am Coll Health 65:534-541
López, Cristina M; Barr, Simone C; Reid-Quiñones, Kathryn et al. (2017) Efficacy of Naltrexone for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence in Latino Populations. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 78:629-634
López, Cristina M; Andrews, Arthur R; Chisolm, Andrea M et al. (2017) Racial/ethnic differences in trauma exposure and mental health disorders in adolescents. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 23:382-387
McCart, Michael R; Sheidow, Ashli J (2016) Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Adolescents With Disruptive Behavior. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 45:529-563
Ritchwood, Tiarney D; DeCoster, Jamie; Metzger, Isha W et al. (2016) Does it really matter which drug you choose? An examination of the influence of type of drug on type of risky sexual behavior. Addict Behav 60:97-102
Andrews 3rd, Arthur R; Jobe-Shields, Lisa; López, Cristina M et al. (2015) Polyvictimization, income, and ethnic differences in trauma-related mental health during adolescence. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 50:1223-34
Jones, Andrea M; Shealy, Kristen M; Reid-Quiñones, Kathryn et al. (2014) Guidelines for establishing a telemental health program to provide evidence-based therapy for trauma-exposed children and families. Psychol Serv 11:398-409
Davidson, Tatiana M; Lopez, Cristina M; Saulson, Raelle et al. (2014) Development and preliminary evaluation of a behavioural HIV-prevention programme for teenage girls of Latino descent in the USA. Cult Health Sex 16:533-46
Sheidow, Ashli J; Henry, David B; Tolan, Patrick H et al. (2014) The Role of Stress Exposure and Family Functioning in Internalizing Outcomes of Urban Families. J Child Fam Stud 23:1351-1365

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications