Perspectives on Adolescent Residential Substance Abuse Treatment: When Are Adolescents Done?

Abstract

The study evaluated responses from adolescents in substance abuse treatment, their parents, and treatment staff to the question of what constitutes treatment success. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 28 adolescents, 30 parents, and 29 staff at three residential substance abuse treatment programs in two states. Data were coded and organized into themes by respondent type. Respondents reported knowing when treatment was no longer needed based on changes in adolescents' substance use, treatment-related and other behaviors, and attitudes and character. A fourth category of responses indicated respondents' ambiguity regarding successful completion of substance abuse treatment. Little concurrence was found among adolescents, parents, and treatment center staff to indicate criteria suggesting that discharge is appropriate. Substance abuse treatment programs and their clients may benefit from ensuring that staff, parents, and adolescents are aware of treatment goals to promote more effective treatment and improve collaboration toward the adolescent's recovery.