The purpose of this research was to identify risk factors for future substance abuse (SA) and/or substance dependence (SD) among young boys with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The prevalence of childhood ADHD among adult substance abusers has been well documented and stimulant medication therapy is considered to be a protective factor. However, this population remains at high risk for developing SA disorder in adulthood. Thus, since stimulant therapy alone does not eliminate the risk of future SA, it is important to determine other factors that contribute to this problem in this population. The specific questions addressed in this research were 1) What risk factors predict SA problems in later life for adolescent boys who were diagnosed with ADHD? ; 2) Do boys diagnosed with ADHD and receiving stimulant medication have the same risk factors for SA as undiagnosed/unmedicated (normal) boys? and 3) Is the medication effect at reducing SA in later years dependent or independent of the response to the pharmacological treatment for behavioral symptoms of ADHD? This study evaluated data collected in a longitudinal study (1968 to present) of boys diagnosed with ADHD at the University of Iowa Hospital outpatient psychiatric clinic. Longitudinal regression and odds-ratios were used to measure the strength of correlation of risk factors to adult SD outcomes in three groups: diagnosed medicated boys, diagnosed unmedicated boys and a comparison group of undiagnosed, unmedicated (normal) boys. It was hypothesized that specific risk factors could be identified in the two groups of diagnosed boys (medicated and unmedicated). It was further hypothesized that poor response to medication would predict higher rates of adult substance abuse. and thus be an indicator for early prevention/intervention need for the poor responders. Results indicated that few of the evidence-based risk factors identified for the general adolescent population were significant predictors of adult SD for these adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Other identified risk factors did not appear to be influenced by the effects of the medication. Response to stimulant medication was not related to the outcome of adult substance dependence, indicating that the protective factor exists regardless of medication response.

Family-based treatments for adolescent substance abuse demonstrate efficacy and are becoming a treatment of choice. Family risk factors for substance abuse may present barriers to or suggest targets for modification during treatment. The sample included 149 adolescents presenting for substance abuse treatment and their parents. Structural equation modeling tested the hypothesis that parent psychological problems, parent substance use, and parenting behaviors influence adolescent psychological problems and substance use. This study is among the first to examine the unique impact of maternal and paternal variables on adolescent problems within one analytical model. Results indicated that parental psychological problems were directly associated with adolescent psychological problems after controlling for parent substance use and parenting behaviors. Paternal positive involvement and poor monitoring were also independently associated with adolescent substance use. Results suggest that both mothers' and fathers' symptoms of psychopathology play an important role in the symptoms of adolescents in treatment for substance abuse. Findings highlight the need for family-based assessment in adolescent treatment populations to address important clinical and research questions.

Sixty families who came to a county mental health center for a substance abuse evaluation for a teenager were interviewed. The parent(s) and teenager were administered the Emotional Cutoff Scale, a paper-and-pencil measure. The functioning of each parent was assessed by the researcher through the Global Assessment of Functioning. The child was evaluated on the Child and Family Assessment Scale, an eight dimension scale. Data were gathered and analyzed through a correlational matrix. Significant correlations at P>.01 were found for degree of cutoff of the mother from her mother and father and her level of self-functioning but not with the level of impairment of the teenager. The sample of fathers did not result in significant correlations. / Ed. D.

No description available.

Substance abuse is the foremost health problem in the United States, with an estimated annual cost of over $400 billion and is linked to over 400,000 preventable deaths each year. Adolescents are among those abusing drugs and alcohol. Approximately one-half of high school students use alcohol and one-fourth smoke marijuana, and by their senior year of high school, over half will have used an illicit drug. Effective substance use interventions for young adults are important in preventing the progression toward other drug use disorders and harmful consequences of frequent drug use. Schools have been identified as a viable setting in which to conduct brief interventions to reduce adolescent substance use. However, a standard therapy for implementing motivational interventions in the school setting has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a motivational intervention on substance use in a school-based adolescent population and to test the hypotheses that motivational interviewing, compared to assessment only, would result in a reduction of substance use and an increase in each participant's readiness to change. The proposed study utilized a randomized controlled design in which participants received one of two conditions, two 30-minute sessions of a motivational intervention or assessment only. Assessments were administered before and one month following the intervention. Results demonstrated that the intervention was effective in reducing daily cigarette use and symptoms of cigarette dependence for participants in the experimental group. These results are consistent with past research investigating the effectiveness of motivational interventions on reducing adolescent substance use, yet the current findings are unique because this is the first school-based motivational intervention delivered by school personnel to effectively reduce adolescent substance use. Results indicate that the current intervention could be implemented as a standard therapy for using motivational interventions to decrease adolescent substance use in the school setting.

The "Dancing with Change" Programme (DWCP) is an ecosystemically informed substance abuse intervention programme that was developed by the participants and myself with the aim of building resilience towards substance abuse among youth. The DWCP was conducted in the school setting, with ten volunteer Grade 7 learners over a ten-week period for an hour a week. The learners' parents participated in an initial needs assessment and in a feedback session at the end of DWCP, together with the life skills teacher and headmaster who observed and contributed to the process. An independent observer, present at each session, served to increase the dependability and confirmability of the evaluation findings. The DWCP appeared to have achieved its goals as defined by the participants. The evaluation findings are presented as a guide for people working in the field of adolescent substance abuse that synthesises best practice and lessons learnt in the field. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

The "Dancing with Change" Programme (DWCP) is an ecosystemically informed substance abuse intervention programme that was developed by the participants and myself with the aim of building resilience towards substance abuse among youth. The DWCP was conducted in the school setting, with ten volunteer Grade 7 learners over a ten-week period for an hour a week. The learners' parents participated in an initial needs assessment and in a feedback session at the end of DWCP, together with the life skills teacher and headmaster who observed and contributed to the process. An independent observer, present at each session, served to increase the dependability and confirmability of the evaluation findings. The DWCP appeared to have achieved its goals as defined by the participants. The evaluation findings are presented as a guide for people working in the field of adolescent substance abuse that synthesises best practice and lessons learnt in the field. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)