ABSTRACT
Research has shown that early onset substance use problems can predict continuing substance abuse problems in adulthood (Chen & Kandel, 1995; Hill, White, Chung, Hawkins, & Catalano, 2000; Newcomb & Bentler, 1986). Individuals who seek help at earlier stages of drug dependence often experience more favorable outcomes, thus highlighting the importance of working with adolescents who are beginning their involvement with drugs (McLellan, Woody, Luborsky, O’Brien, & Druley, 1983). While several approaches to treating adolescent substance abuse have been evaluated, the majority of these approaches have little support for use with adolescents (Vaughn & Howard, 2004). Also, while therapy appears to help, little evidence is available to suggest that one therapy is more effective than another, and even less is known about what therapy works for different populations including ethnic or cultural groups (Gil, Wagner, & Tubman, 2004), adolescents with comorbid diagnoses (Bukstein & Winters, 2004), and males versus females (Chung, Colby, O’Leary, Barnet, & Monti, 2003; Latimer, Winters, Stinchfield & Traver, 2000).
