Adolescent Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) Program: A Mental Health-Law Enforcement Collaboration

• NCJ Number: 213858
• Journal: Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 87-104
• Author(s): Vincent B. Van Hasselt; Gary Killam; Kari M. Schlessinger; Tina M. DiCicco; William F. Anzalone Jr.; Tricia L. Leslie; John A. George; Edward J. Werder; Larry L. Massey
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2003-CJ-2H-11-16-02-199
• Sponsoring Agency: Byrne Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study presents preliminary data on the effectiveness of the Adolescent Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) Program, a collaborative effort that involves mental health and law enforcement.

Abstract

Findings show that the proportion of the adolescent sample who reported stopping or reducing their substance use was greater than those who reported maintaining their use. The proportion of the sample who had not reoffended was greater than the number who had. There was also an overall difference in the proportion of adolescents who eliminated, reduced, maintained, and increased the number of days they were truant from school as a function of participation in ADAPT. Based on these results, ADAPT apparently reduces adolescents' risk for substance abuse. ADAPT provides outpatient treatment to adolescents who have been arrested by police for a first-time misdemeanor offense, are considered "at risk" for reoffending or committing more serious offenses in the future, and have a history of substance abuse or are at risk for substance abuse behaviors. ADAPT treatment consists of 16 outpatient sessions. Program components are social skills training, problem-solving skills training, anger-control training, annoyance reviews, stress-reduction training, "psychoeducation," and parenting skills training. After an adolescent is arrested by police, the department completes a background check to determine any prior arrests. If the adolescent has no prior arrest, the case is referred to the police agency's Juvenile Diversionary Board. ADAPT staff meet regularly with the Board to screen potential candidates for the program. Once the adolescent is diverted to ADAPT, a staff member contacts the family, explains the program, and arranges an initial appointment. The evaluation assessed 303 program participants (233 males and 70 females). It determined whether the program reduced rates of substance use or abuse, produced lower levels of recidivism and fewer days of truancy, and improved academic performance. 3 tables, 4 figures, and 52 references