M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The purpose of the literature review is to identify consistent patterns regarding adolescent use and abuse of chemical substances, especially alcohol and marijuana. Acute physical, cognitive and social effects of alcohol and marijuana use are outlined, and environmental and personal determinants of drug use and abuse are examined. Methods of prevention and intervention are discussed and, from the research findings, a model group counseling program designed for the school setting is proposed. Adolescent use of both marijuana and alcohol is found to be modal by age 16-17. The physical, cognitive and social effects are pervasive and especially damaging to chronic users. Youth are extremely vulnerable to suffering adversity from their drug use patterns.

The purpose of the study was to compare behavior patterns of alcoholics before and after they stopped drinking. Specifically, changes in the interactions of thinking, feeling, and acting behavior components of two groups of recovering, non-relapsed, alcoholics with 6 months or less and a third group with 5 or more years of sobriety were analyzed. The study used TFA Systems™, an integrated and multidisciplinary theoretical model, to discern factors related to stopping drinking and maintaining sobriety. Research methodology included purposeful sampling from AA, residential, and outpatient substance abuse centers. The Hutchins' Behavior Inventory (HBI) was used to assess behavior in high risk drinking situations for: (a) before starting to drink behavior [Group 1]; (b) 6 months or less of short-term sobriety behavior [Group 2]; and (c) 5 years or more sobriety behavior [Group 3]. Results were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Responses from a structured interview were analyzed using methods from the TFA/HBI Analytic Guide and the askSam data management system. The short-term recovery groups differed in demographic factors from the group with 5 or more years of sobriety. Past drinking behavior was characterized with a Feeling-Acting-Thinking (F-A-T) sequential orientation. Those with six months or less sobriety had a Feeling-Thinking-Acting (F-T-A) orientation. People with five or more years of sobriety had a Thinking-Feeling-Acting (T-F-A) orientation with integrated and nearly balanced TFA triads. Qualitative measures indicated that with longer sobriety anticipatory thoughts about drinking changed to thoughts of positive alternatives and positive self-focus. Results suggested that the first change to begin in recovery is to shift negative action toward positive thinking behavior. The next change appeared to occur in learning to integrate feelings and actions. Maintenance tasks appeared to focus on integrating and balancing all behavior components. How the TFA model met the need for a client adaptable and integrated model with assessment methods across phases of recovery was discussed. / Ph. D.