Treating Incarcerated Juvenile Methamphetamine Abusers

Abstract

Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The typical user begins in their late teens or early 20s. However, those who begin using at a much younger age present particularly difficult treatment challenges. Such youth often have troubled social and substance abuse histories and may not respond well to short-term outpatient treatment. This is a report on the novel application of an evidence-based treatment model to incarcerated methamphetamine abusing youth. The program provides six months of intensive individualized treatment in a secure juvenile facility followed by six months of monitoring and support services in the community.