NCJ Number
198899
Date Published
2003
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the Teen Substance Abuse Treatment (TSAT) program.
Abstract
The TSAT program is a 3-month intensive outpatient treatment program for adolescent substance users in Maricopa County, Arizona. The program opened in 1997 to meet the need for an intensive outpatient program for juveniles 12- to 17-years-old with substance abuse problems and their families. Juvenile probation has been the primary referral source for the TSAT program, most probationers’ involvement being court ordered. It is a 90-day program from intake to graduation. An extension is sometimes granted for the juvenile to continue with services after the 90 days of treatment. The treatment goals include reduced or eliminated substance use, improved decision making, improved family functioning, reduced or eliminated criminal involvement, and reduced out-of-home placements. Staff, clients, and family members of the client work together to strengthen the family’s ability to manage crises, support sobriety, and to reinforce good decision making and appropriate behavior of all family members. Multiple treatment components are used along with random drug use monitoring. The program approach is based upon cognitive behavioral and family systems therapy. The design of the TSAT program includes three components: in-home family and individual counseling, teen group, and multifamily group. A treatment outcome study, a qualitative study, and a cost study are the three types of evaluation implemented. Clients are usually male, white, and live at home with their parents. Preliminary findings, prior to the implementation of the adolescent treatment models study, indicated that adolescents that participated in the program were able to reduce their drug use and related negative behaviors. 2 tables, 14 references