Work

Use of Brief Interventions for Drug Abusing Teenagers Within a Middle and High School Setting

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Promising and encouraging results have been recently reported on the use of briefer interventions for adolescent drug abusers. Because middle- and high-school-based drug abuse intervention programs have grown in popularity over the past several decades, the use of brief interventions (BIs) in school settings merits consideration. METHODS: We review several clinical and school contextual issues pertaining to the scientific efficacy, feasibility, and application of BIs for students who are abusing drugs. RESULTS: Several advantages for employing BIs in a school setting are identified, including the relatively high base rate of students with mild-to-moderate drug involvement and the likelihood that school counselors can readily learn BI techniques. Caveats of implementing BIs include practical, systemic, and clinical barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite concerns, schools are a viable setting in which to screen youth for drug abuse problems and to conduct a BI.

Source: Journal of School Health

DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2007.00191.x

Authors: Ken C. Winters, Willa Leitten, Eric Wagner, Tracy O’Leary Tevyaw

Institutions: University of Minnesota, Florida International University, Brown University

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse