Comprehensive developmental assessment of substance involvement is a prerequisite for conducting rigorous research designed to advance understanding of the progression of substance use behavior to a substance use disorder (SUD). At the Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, a protocol has been developed for detailed temporal assessment of…

Tests a theory positing a role of sexual maturation and behavioral self-regulation in the development of early onset substance use disorders. The rate of maturation in adolescent males across three timepoints was found to be associated with parental substance use disorder (SUD). Parental, especially maternal, SUD was related to the sons' SUD.…

Examines the extent to which behavioral dysregulation in late childhood predicted daily cigarette smoking in mid-adolescence. Daily smoking at age 16 was predicted by behavioral dysregulation with 67% classification accuracy. Results indicate that both individual and environmental factors conjointly contribute to the emergence of daily smoking…

The results reported herein indicate that psychological dysregulation in childhood is a risk factor for substance use disorder (SUD) but not suicidality. Offspring of men with SUD do, however, report a higher rate of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to offspring of psychiatrically normal men. (Contains 28 references and 4 tables.) (GCP)

A statewide treatment outcomes monitoring system included baseline interviews with 387 adolescents and 363 parents representing 37 programs. This study examined adolescent and parent predictors of treatment completion and 6-month outcomes. Only 21.4% of the adolescents reported abstinence for the 6 months following treatment; however, marijuana…

Describes the initial development and validation of an adolescent-specific multi-dimensional scale to measure motivation to change related to substance use. Preliminary psychometric findings reveal adequate internal consistency and a factor structure corresponding to the inventory's subscales. Implications for future research and for practice are…

Surveys substance abuse counselor supervisors to examine their perceptions of anxiety and resistance reactions in their supervisees, how they responded to these reactions, and how these reactions impacted the supervisory relationship. Supervisors indicated that personal insecurity was the most common reaction, with discussing the issue the most…

Inpatients seeking treatment for substance use disorder were compared by gender on several variables. Results included (1) females were more likely to endorse dependence symptoms and report experiencing dependence symptoms at a younger age; (2) females progressed faster to regular use of drugs; (3) females were more likely to begin substance use…

Rehabilitation clients enter treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse at various stages of readiness to change. It is important that treatment should be congruent with clients' readiness for change. Describes a substance abuse treatment matching model based on the Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change Theory. (Author)

Introduces the special section that focuses on four major studies under the treatment improvement protocols (TIPs) evaluation project. Provides an overview of each article, and addresses the value of using a theory-driven approach to dissemination research. (SLD)

Measured substance abuse treatment professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series and the 28 TIPs. Results for 3,267 respondents in wave 1 and 1,028 in wave 2 indicate that almost half of all professionals were aware of the TIPs. Attitudes toward TIPs were positive, but professionals…

Study investigated whether or not participant needs were being met at a Family Night program for residential and outpatient clients. Responses indicated that increased satisfaction with the program was associated with increased participation, and with perceptions that the presented material related to their respective family problems. Implications…

Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief educational motivation intervention for HIV/AIDS risky behaviors in treatment seeking substance abusing adolescents. Results did not demonstrate any group differences at either three or six months follow-up after hospital discharge. Risky sexual behaviors decreased from baseline in…

Analyzes the minimum professional training requirements of 32 state certifying bodies for substance abuse counselors. Only 14 of the certifying boards included any of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs core knowledge areas in their training components. The lack of specific drug and alcohol training brings…

Examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to determine impact of school-level substance use on adolescent-peer similarity for smoking and drinking. Found that adolescent-peer similarity was significantly moderated by school-level substance use for both tobacco and alcohol use. Inferred that schools with relatively few…