young people in the meetings they attend); and an emphasis on a lifetime of abstinence, which, developmentally, is hard for a youth to grasp, much less embrace (Kelly et al., 2016). If possible, adolescents should be placed in groups according to age, gender, and culture. Larger cities often have AA and NA meetings that are designed specifically for adolescents and overseen by a suitable adult. These meetings are sometimes identified as Alateen meetings. That many adolescents discontinue their involvement in 12-step programs because of a perceived lack of fit suggests that clinicians have failed to Case Study: Monica Simmons Monica is a 16-year-old. She and her family have recently moved across the country, and she is the new girl at school. In an effort to fit in, Monica began to drink alcohol and use illegal drugs. She has begun to recognize that her substance use has negatively impacted her schoolwork and her interpersonal relationships. Her parents are very worried and want to do everything possible to help her stop using substances. Monica is afraid that her poor grades will prevent her from being accepted to college and prevent her from pursuing her dreams of a journalism career. Question What types of interventions may be most appropriate for Monica? Monica is likely an appropriate candidate for the abstinence approach. Family therapy will be a useful strategy for Monica, since her parents are involved and concerned about their daughter’s welfare. Journaling is also a good option. Monica is interested in a career in journalism and may find keeping a journal quite helpful. Her desire to fit in has contributed to her SUD. Cognitive rehearsal would be a useful strategy by giving her an opportunity to learn to deal with peer pressure. Monica may also benefit from participation in 12-step models after she reaches the stage of maintenance therapy. Treatment Plan Example To successfully treat adolescents with substance use disorders, an individualized treatment plan must be developed with the adolescent and their parents, when possible (Desrosiers et al., 2015). The treatment plan should emphasize components that are specific to the adolescent’s problems and needs. The treatment plan itself can take many forms, and this course presents a treatment plan development process that is commonly used in outpatient clinics. Treatment plans must list and confront the adolescent’s strengths and problem areas. Most treatment plans also list the adolescent’s limitations and hindrances for treatment. Addressing only symptoms will not correct an adolescent’s problems and functional constraints. The adolescent’s presenting problems or the reason that they came for treatment must be a part of the treatment plan as well. The following treatment plan example shows important treatment plan components.
carefully match youth with meetings that resonate with their culture, style, or socioeconomic status (Kelly et al., 2016). Whenever feasible, these are the best referral considerations for adolescents in need of a 12-step support network. ALANON, a branch of the AA therapy approach, provides group meetings of family and friends of adults and teens with SUD. These meetings are designed to help loved ones recognize and cope with the individual’s condition and discover family support strategies. TREATMENT PLAN EXAMPLE Name: Linda B. Age: 15 Client Strengths: ● Family support ● Cooperative ● Doing well academically ● Motivated to change some behaviors Problems: ● Substance dependence ● Guilt and shame ● Anxiety ● Depression ● Risky sexual behaviors Diagnosis: 304.50 Other Hallucinogen Use Disorder (Ecstasy, Rohypnol) Primary Problems: ● Drug dependence (Rohypnol, Ecstasy) and related risky sexual behaviors Behavioral Definitions: ● Sexual promiscuity ● Chronic use of hallucinogens, especially Rohypnol and Ecstasy Long-Term Goals: ● Lifestyle safe from drug-induced risks and dangerous decisions ● Address risky sexual behavior ● Total abstinence from all mood-altering chemicals Short-Term Objectives: ● Recognize how lifestyle and choices to continue drug use have impacted life Completion date: ______________________ ● Verbalize how risky sexual behaviors have impacted life Completion date: ______________________ Interventions: ● Assist client in verbally expressing the facts and feelings related to drug abuse Provider: ________________________ ● Assist client in drawing up a cost–benefit list pertaining to drug use and risky sexual behaviors Provider: ________________________ ● Assist client in identifying motivating thoughts and experiences Provider: ________________________ ● Type of counseling or therapy provided: Individual counseling _1_ × weekly
Group counseling _1_ × weekly Couples counseling ____ × weekly Family counseling ____ × weekly Other: Refer to NA when better stabilized
Client signature __________________ Date ___________ Counselor signature __________________ Date ___________
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Book Code: SWUS1524B
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