Drug Abuse Treatment

Research Findings from February, 2003 Director's Report

This section lists selected summaries from NIDA funded research projects that investigate the child and adolescent drug abuse treatment. The summaries provided were selected from recent issues of the Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. For a more comprehensive listing of NIDA funded projects see the Director's Report.

Transporting a Research-based Adolescent Drug Treatment into Practice

This article describes the key ingredients and processes of transporting an empirically supported, research-developed family therapy for adolescent drug abusers, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), into an intensive day treatment program. Using the same systems change principles that guide this treatment approach, the technology transfer process is a collaborative, multidimensional, systemic intervention aimed at changing organizational structures, and attitudinal and behavioral patterns with multiple staff members at several program levels. This article describes: (1) the conceptual and empirical basis for these technology transfer efforts; (2) the technology being adapted and transferred; and (3) the critical events and processes that have shaped the transfer of MDFT into this program. The authors discuss the process and outcomes using Simpson's model of organizational change and specify the implications of this experience for the expansion of current conceptualization of technology transfer. Liddle, H.A., Rowe, C.L., Quille, T.J., Dakof, G.A., Mills, D.S., Sakran, E., and Biaggi, H. J Subst Abuse Treat, 22(4), pp. 231-243, June 2002.

Four-Year Follow-Up of Multisystemic Therapy with Substance-Abusing and Substance-Dependent Juvenile Offenders

This study addresses a gap in the adolescent substance abuse treatment literature by examining the long-term outcomes of a family-based treatment model. Eighty of 118 substance-abusing juvenile offenders provided follow-up data 4 years after participating in a randomized clinical trial comparing Multisystemic Therapy (MST) with usual community services. A multimethod (self-report, biological, and archival measures) assessment battery was used to measure the criminal behavior, illicit drug use, and psychiatric symptoms of participating young adults. Analyses demonstrated significant long-term treatment effects for aggressive criminal activity (0.15 versus 0.57 convictions per year) but not for property crimes. Findings for illicit drug use were mixed, with biological measures indicating significantly higher rates of marijuana abstinence for MST participants (55% versus 28% of young adults). Long-term treatment effects were not observed for psychiatric symptoms. These findings provide some evidence that MST can produce favorable long-term reductions in antisocial and drug using behavior of substance-abusing juvenile offenders. This information adds to the body of knowledge regarding appropriate treatment modalities for adolescent substance abusing juvenile offenders. Henggeler, S.W., Clingempeel, W.G., Brondino, M.J., and Pickrel, S.G. J Am Ac Child and Adoles Psychiatry, 41(7), pp. 868-874, 2002.