Residential Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders: Evidence-Based Approaches and Best Practice Recommendations

Abstract

The rate of alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents and the number of youth at risk for the development of substance use disorders later in life remain a serious national health concern. Intervention and prevention in adolescence is particularly indicated considering that most long-term patterns of abuse and dependence originate in youth or young adulthood. Although most of the early efforts to address adolescent substance abuse utilized adult treatment models, more recent efforts have been based on research with adolescent populations and are informed by theories and knowledge of adolescent development.