Feasibility and impact of implementing motivational enhancement therapy–cognitive behavioral therapy as a substance use treatment intervention in school-based settings

Abstract

The expansion of behavioral health services to school-based health centers under the Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) presents an opportunity to improve access to substance use disorders treatment for youth and reduce their substance use, and emotional, health, and school problems. We explore the feasibility of implementing five to seven sessions of motivational enhancement therapy–cognitive behavioral therapy (MET/CBT) in school settings relative to a matched cohort in community settings. Results indicate that MET/CBT in school settings is feasible, effective, and cost-effective. Moreover, it reaches youth earlier after the onset of substance use and has the possibility to reduce existing health disparities for girls and ethnic minorities.

Keywords::

• motivational enhancement therapy–cognitive behavioral therapy
• school-based health centers
• translational effectiveness
• implementation feasibility
• substance abuse treatment outcomes
• youth

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the grantees and their participants for agreeing to share their data to support this secondary analysis. The content and opinions of this data are those of the authors and do not reflect official positions of the contributing grantees' project directors or government.

Additional information

Funding

The development of this study was supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) contract # 270-12-0397 using data provided by the following grantees: TI15413, TI15415, TI15421, TI15433, TI15438, TI15446, TI15447, TI15458, TI15461, TI15466, TI15467, TI15469, TI15475, TI15478, TI15479, TI15481, TI15483, TI15485, TI15486, TI15489, TI15511, TI15514, TI15524, TI15527, TI15545, TI15562, TI15577, TI15584, TI15586, TI15670, TI15671, TI15672, TI15674, TI15677, TI15678, TI15682, TI15686.