NCJ Number
136452
Journal
Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1991) Pages: 327-333
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Though the self-help program "ToughLove" has been popular for many parents with troubled adolescents, issues of quality and complexity with regard to the group's philosophy and treatment of teenage substance abuse and antisocial behaviors need to be examined by health care professionals.
Abstract
"ToughLove" was organized as a response to the sparse research on adolescent alcohol and chemical abuse. The program focused on stopping parent enabling by changing adolescent behaviors through confrontation. Though traditional methods of psychotherapy including identification of family dysfunction were considered significant, "Toughlove" did not want to burden parents with these psychosocial issues. Objections to the program include its lack of scholarly research and negative outcomes such as teenage suicide and increased adolescent hostility after confrontation have not been documented. Another objection included the use of parents as group leaders instead of relying on a professional's expertise in understanding and handling the complexity of substance abuse. Programs that offer support and intervention such as the Johnson Institute offer an alternative to the "Toughlove" confrontational approach. At the Johnson Institute, treatment comes from several sources including self-help and a network of professional caregivers. 11 references