Family Recovery from Youth Substance Use Related Problems: A Pilot Study of the BEST Plus Program

Abstract

Youth substance use related problems are increasingly common, and families experience considerable stress in attempting to cope with these problems. A pilot study of 34 Australian parents from 21 families (38% sole parent families) participating in an 8-week group program, designed to assist families recover from youth substance use related problems, provided the context to explore family change processes. Participants reported a number of significant improvements over the course of the four groups that ran from late 2003 and through 2004. Regression analyses found general support for the program logic model in identifying significant associations between program-targeted parent changes and post-program improvements in stress symptoms and cohesive family behaviors. The study's limitations are noted.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• drugs
• treatment
• adolescence
• family therapy
• therapeutic processes

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge funding from the R. E. Ross Trust and Bokhara Foundation that enabled this work to be completed. John W. Toumbourou's contribution to this project was made possible through his Senior Research Fellowship funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. Ms. Celia Godfrey provided valuable research assistance. The support of the Mary of the Cross Centre (Centacare) and Youth Outreach Team, Western Health, provided an auspice and client base for this pilot. The Tegner family and friends donated funding support and provided us with inspiration and determination to improve services to parents and siblings affected by adolescent substance use problems. We acknowledge the courage and determination of the families who fully participated in supporting the development of this program and in finding solutions to the problems their children face.

Notes

¹ The reader is referred to the large “natural recovery” literature which has documented generalizable empirical findings noting that a substantial number of people of all ages who initiated the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of licit drugs/medications/recreational-social substances, ceased such use, on their own, without being involved in any types of formal treatment. “Use”—however defined—does not automatically result in a linear, cause and effect process which results in a substance use disorder. Editor's note.

² The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.