NCJ Number
207018
Journal
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 43 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2004 Pages: 1171-1174
Date Published
September 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After reviewing research findings that show the value of aftercare in preventing relapse after completing a drug treatment program, this article describes the rationale for and implementation of individual brief therapeutic phone contacts (IBTPC) in aftercare for juveniles.
Abstract
Correlational studies that have examined the link between participation in aftercare services and outcomes for those with alcohol and other substance use disorders have consistently found that greater participation in aftercare was associated with a reduced risk of relapse after treatment. These findings have led to a recognition of the need for reliable, brief, and cost-effective ways of providing clinical aftercare. IBTPC holds promise for meeting this need. The program consists of one face-to-face 50-minute session of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) followed by several 15-minute phone contacts scheduled at 2- to 3-week intervals. During the phone contacts, the therapist asks the patient about his/her abstinence/relapse status and motivation, identifies problem areas, and provides skill guidelines and problem-solving strategies. The content of the phone conversations is based on the specific needs of the individual patient, which have been determined through the completion of a form prior to beginning the phone contacts. Preliminary results from the use of IBTPC in aftercare indicate that both therapists and patients view the program as feasible and useful, particularly when measured against no aftercare. 1 figure and 14 references