The primary goal this project is to examine the long-term effects of outpatient treatments for illicit drug using adolescents. Specifically, this study proposes to complete a follow-up assessment with a sample of 379 young adults that participated in a recently completed effectiveness trial to examine the differential effectiveness of brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) and treatment as usual (TAU) in the rates of substance use, externalizing behaviors (including arrests and sexually risky behaviors), time in restricted settings (e.g., residential treatment, detention), and improvements in family functioning. The proposed study is designed to fill a knowledge gap regarding the long term effects of outpatient treatments for adolescent drug users and has implications for furthering research on both family therapy as well as treatment as usual in community agencies. Moreover, this study is particularly relevant for community-based agencies, and - as such - has broad implications for practice in outpatient adolescent substance abuse treatment. Also, the proposed sample includes a sizable population of African American and Hispanics participants. As such, the findings will be relevant for Hispanic and African American adolescent drug users, and will permit the evaluation of the long term impact of the interventions (BSFT and TAU) on specific racial/ethnic groups: African Americans, Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites.

Public Health Relevance

The primary goal this project is to examine the long-term effects of different outpatient treatments (brief strategic family therapy and treatment as usual) for illicit drug using adolescents. Given the stability and persistence of drug use over time, examining distal outcomes is critical for identifying effective strategies for preventing adult drug dependent careers. Moreover, the results of this study will have broad implications for practice in outpatient adolescent substance abuse treatment, and will be essential in furthering research on both family therapy as well as treatment as usual in community agencies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
High Impact Research and Research Infrastructure Programs (RC2)
Project #
1RC2DA028864-01
Application #
7853866
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-MXG-S (7D))
Program Officer
Scudder, Quandra
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2011-08-31
Budget Start
2009-09-30
Budget End
2010-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$879,405
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
Horigian, Viviana E; Feaster, Daniel J; Robbins, Michael S et al. (2015) A cross-sectional assessment of the long term effects of brief strategic family therapy for adolescent substance use. Am J Addict 24:637-45
Szapocznik, José; Muir, Joan A; Duff, Johnathan H et al. (2015) Brief Strategic Family Therapy: implementing evidence-based models in community settings. Psychother Res 25:121-33