A Group Therapy Program for Opioid-Dependent Adolescents and Their Parents. Issue 4 (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pugatch, Marianne; Knight, John R.; McGuiness, Patricia; Sherritt, Lon; Levy, Sharon
• Is Part Of: Substance abuse. Volume 35:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 435
• Page End: 441
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Adolescents -- opioid-related disorders -- substance use treatment -- group therapy -- parents; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medical education -- Periodicals; Education, Medical -- periodicals; Substance Abuse -- periodicals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2014.958208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0889-7077

Abstract

Background: Opioid dependence is a significant problem for adolescents in the United States. Psychosocial treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorders may be effective, although it has not been well studied. Methods: This paper describes a 13-week psychoeducational group therapy program with parallel tracks for adolescents with opioid use disorders and their parents attending an outpatient substance use program in a children's hospital. In addition to group therapy, participating adolescents received medical care, including medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence, drug testing, medical follow-up, psychopharmacology, individual counseling, and parent guidance. Data were collected as part of a quality improvement project for the program. Forty-two adolescents and 72 parents attended the group program between 2006 and 2009. Frequencies were computed and a weighted kappa was used to assess agreement between adolescent and parent reports of use and driving risk. Results: Of the 42 adolescents participating in the 13-week group program, 36 (86%) completed 3 or more group sessions, and 24 (57%) completed 10 or more sessions. Twenty-two (52%) adolescent participants reported abstinence from all substances on each of their weekly evaluations. Adolescent-parent agreement for substance use was good to very good: weighted kappa (95% confidence interval) .76 (.60, .87), but poor for driving risk, weighted kappa .11 (−.20, .40). Conclusions: Completion rates and self-report of outcomes from this group program indicate promise and warrant further testing.