The Status of Health Services Research on Adjudicated Drug-Abusing Juveniles: Selected Findings and Remaining Questions

Abstract

This article focuses on the factors that affect the availability, accessibility, and opportunity of effective treatment for the adjudicated adolescent drug user The social and developmental context of "drug abuse" and its treatment in adolescents, and particularly in adjudicated adolescents, is reviewed and compared with that in adults. Selected health services research findings on this population are discussed in terms of the effectiveness of delivering treatment services; the organization, management, and financing of services; and adoption of best practices (technology transfer).

A comparison of treatment outcomes for adolescent community reinforcement approach participants with and without co-occurring problems

“…Adolescents with these problems are considered more difficult to engage and retain in treatment (Dobkin, Chabot, Maliantovich, & Craig, 1998; Kaminer, Tarter, Bukstein, & Kabene, 1992; Kazdin, 1996). Based on a review of several studies, it appears that adolescents with externalizing disorders were more likely to terminate from treatment early, whereas those with internalizing disorders had better retention rates (Flanzer, 2005); however, Rowe, Liddle, Greenbaum, and Henderson (2004) found comparable treatment engagement and retention for adolescents classified in three comorbid groups. Substance use outcomes also tend to be poorer for those with dual disorders (Couwenbergh et al, 2006).…”

Review of Rationale for Neurofeedback Application in Adolescent Substance Abusers with Comorbid Disruptive Behavioral Disorders

“…SUD. Despite increased prevalence of SUD in adolescents, only about 10% of adolescents needing treatment actually enter treatment (SAMHSA, 2007), suggesting a sizable gap between needed treatment and available specialized services (Becker & Curry, 2008;Etheridge, Smith, Rounds-Bryant, & Hubbard, 2001;Franzer, 2005;Knudsen, 2009;Sussman, 2010). Adolescents seeking treatment often face barriers to treatment entry, such as strict admission policies, and limited availability of adolescent-only treatment programs.…”

Community’s Role and School’s Role in Protecting against Student Substance Use: A Spatial Analysis

“…Two serious problem behaviors, substance use and misuse, are often associated with crime, accidents, injuries, and deaths (Flanzer, 2005;Lo & Stephens, 2002;Metsch & McCoy, 1999;Vlahov et al, 2008). Heavy use of alcohol and/or other substances in adolescence has long-lasting consequences that include high levels of substance use later in life (Lo, 2000b).…”