What approach is MOST effective for adolescents in terms of reducing drug use at treatment completion?

Family therapy is considered one of the most effective approaches for adolescents in reducing drug use at treatment completion due to its focus on the family dynamics that influence a young person’s behavior. Adolescents are heavily influenced by their family environment, and family therapy addresses the interactions and communication patterns within the family system. By engaging family members in the therapeutic process, family therapy helps to foster healthier relationships, improve communication, and address underlying issues such as conflict, enabling the adolescent to feel supported and understood.

This approach also educates family members about substance use and its effects, empowers them to provide appropriate support to the adolescent, and works toward creating a more positive family environment. By strengthening family connections and improving supportive dynamics, the likelihood of sustained recovery and reduced recidivism in drug use among adolescents is significantly enhanced.

Other approaches, while beneficial in their own right, may not address the familial factors as comprehensively as family therapy does. This makes the family therapy model particularly impactful for adolescents navigating the complexities of substance use and seeking to achieve lasting change.