Transitional Treatment of Adolescents in Family Therapy (Transitions)

The purpose of this study is to test different treatments to reduce relapse for drug-abusing adolescents who have completed family therapy. Adolescents receive 12 weeks of family therapy, designed to strengthen family relationships and develop skills for helping the adolescent avoid drug use. Then they are randomly assigned to receive one of three eight-week follow-up treatments: phone calls from a project therapist, group therapy, or a customized schedule of therapist visits with the adolescent, the adolescent's family and teachers, coaches, probation officers and others who can help the adolescent reach or maintain abstinence. Families are assessed using questionnaires and interviews before, during and after treatment, to provide information about family functioning, the adolescent's drug use, the adolescent's peers and other factors that may contribute to treatment success or failure. Adolescents also provide urine specimens for drug screening at assessment visits. Study investigators expect the study will show that a functional family environment and insulating adolescents from the influence of peers who use drugs will help prevent relapse for adolescents who have received family therapy.

Following 12 weeks of Functional Family Therapy (FFT), semi-weekly therapist phone calls for eight weeks.

Following 12 weeks of FFT, an eight-week, customized series of therapist visits with the adolescent, family, teachers, coaches and others who can support the adolescent's reduced level of drug use.

Following 12 weeks of Functional Family Therapy (FFT), semi-weekly phone calls from a therapist for eight weeks.

Following 12 weeks of FFT, an individualized eight-week series of therapist meetings with the adolescent, family, police, teachers, coaches and others who can support the adolescent's reduced drug use.

Drug use levels for adolescents who have received family therapy and one of the three aftercare regimens

Inclusion Criteria: At least one parent, step-parent, or surrogate parent willing to participate in the study 13 to 18 years if age meets DSM-IV (APA, 1994) diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or dependence Lives in the Albuquerque metropolitan area or surrounding communities with a parent, step-parent, or surrogate parent; AND Sufficient residential stability to permit probable contact at follow-up (e.g., not homeless at time of intake). Exclusion Criteria: Evidence of psychotic or organic state of sufficient severity to interfere with understanding of study instruments and procedures Adolescent deemed dangerous to self or others during evaluation Services other than outpatient treatment required for the adolescent (e.g., inpatient, detoxification) Adolescent already has participated in treatment project at CFAR; AND A sibling is already participating in project.