Alcohol and other drug continuing care for young people: identifying helpful program mechanisms

ABSTRACT

‘Continuing care’ refers to the provision of co-ordinated care and support overtime. Currently, little is known about continuing care programs for young people who complete alcohol and other drug treatment. This paper analyses data from an interview-based study that aimed to identify the generative mechanisms underpinning an innovative continuing care program for young people. Researchers recruited 11 current and former program clients aged 17 to 25 years and nine program staff. Analysis identified five generative mechanisms of the program that supported participants to manage their substance use over the long term, namely person-centred counselling; relationship stability; safety and inclusion; situated mode of ordering continuing care; and organizational memory. Participants reported that the best continuing care for young people is holistic, includes regular and sustained contact, employs an innovative approach to intervention, establishes links with community services and other support structures, and provides care within a safe, person-centred, and situated framework.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• substance use
• continuity of care
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant DP200100492 ‘Aftercare for young people: A sociological study of resource opportunities’, with additional funding from the UNSW Interlude grant scheme 2021. The project is a partnership between UNSW Sydney Australia, La Trobe University Melbourne Australia, Kings College London United Kingdom, YSAS Youth Support Advocacy Services, and The Ted Noffs Foundation. The research was supported by the excellent contributions of Dr Rebecca Gray, Ora Davidson, Mitchell Beadman, Dr Jacqui Sundbery, Mark Ferry, and Andrew Bruun. The research team is grateful for the support provided by the staff of YSAS, Windana, Ted Noffs Foundation and Lives Lived Well residential rehabilitation, residential detoxification, and housing programs. We are particularly grateful to the young people who shared their stories about substance use and treatment experiences for this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Due to confidentiality and anonymity requirements contained in the study’s ethics approval, interview data is unavailable.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Australian Research Council [DP200100492].