Continuing Care for Adolescents in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Adolescents who enter treatment for substance use often do not complete the program and do not connect with continuing care services. Most return to some level of substance use. Our review found 10 outcome studies of continuing care treatment. More assertive approaches can increase continuing care initiation rates and rapid initiation of continuing care makes a difference in reducing substance use. Continuing care is appropriate for those who complete treatment and for those who do not. Adaptive treatment designs hold promise for establishing decision rules as to which adolescents need low-intensity continuing care services and which need more intensive care.

Keywords: Adaptive treatment; Adolescents; Aftercare; Assertive continuing care; Continuing care; Mutual aid groups.