Analyzing an Opinion Paper Best Treatment Approach to Adolescent Substance Disorders

¶ … Treatment Approach to Adolescent Substance Disorders

All over the world, the issue of substance abuse among adolescents is worrying many parents and governments. Substance abuse not only has long-term negative effects on an adolescent's brain but it may also interfere with the individual's school performance, and the relationships they have with their families and friends. The good news is no matter what one is addicted to, he or she can be helped through a substance abuse intervention. Each intervention is tweaked to the specific needs of each adolescent. Prior to the commencement of treatment, there is need for a thorough evaluation to identify an individual's strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be done. A proper intervention will look into an adolescent's: behavioural issues; physical issues; ethnic and cultural factors; their relationships with parents, friends, loved ones and community members; their gender; and degree of psychological development (National Institute on Drug Abuse, & United States of America, 2014). This paper explores why behavioural intervention is the best drug abuse treatment approach. The following are some of the most effective behavioural substance abuse treatment approaches (National Institute on Drug Abuse, & United States of America, 2014).

A-CRA (Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach)

This treatment approach helps one to maintain substance abstinence by replacing past negative influences that led to drug abuse with healthier vocational, educational, social and family influences (Kelly & Urbanoski, 2012). These influences are referred to as reinforcers. Seventeen A-CRA procedures can be used to address different problems that the adolescent may have encountered. However, before using any treatment plan, the adolescent's degree of psychological functioning is first assessed to determine which communication, coping, or problem-solving deficits the individual may have. This will help in knowing the action required to encourage positive recreational and social activities (Dennis et al., 2004).

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

The CBT is rooted in the idea that different learning processes play a significant role in the start of problem behaviours such as substance abuse. One of the main elements in cognitive behavioural therapy is teaching individuals how to expect problems and how to cope with them. In CBT interventions, adolescents are also taught how to monitor their thoughts, moods and feelings and other cues to that may prompt behavioural abuse. They are also taught substance refusal, self-control and anger management skills (Kaminer & Waldron, 2006).

Contingency Management (CM)

Studies have shown the efficacy of interventions utilizing different reinforcements to bring about positive behaviours and to change problem behaviours such as drug addiction. The goal of this intervention is to weaken the level of reinforcement drugs cause, and to replace it with reinforcements from healthier activities (Stanger & Budney, 2010).

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

MET is a counselling intervention that helps individuals to think critically about getting themselves into treatment and abstaining from drugs. Though not a treatment in itself, it encourages adolescents to seek access and adapt other substance abuse interventions (Barnett, Sussman, Smith, Rohrbach & Spruijt-Metz, 2012).