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Adolescents

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Social Work Practice in the Addictions

Part of the book series: Contemporary Social Work Practice ((Contemp. Social Work Practice))

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Abstract

Although adolescence is a developmental period characterized by increased experimentation with alcohol and drugs, substance use and abuse during adolescence is a serious concern with substantial consequences for adolescents and their families. These concerns include psychosocial problems, cognitive deficits, and reduced motivation to succeed academically. This chapter reviews the prevalence of adolescent substance use, risk factors, prevention and treatment, and adolescent resiliency in the presence of risk. Several individual and family-based interventions are effective in treating adolescent addiction. Interventions that use behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and motivational enhancing approaches are particularly effective, as are interventions that ameliorate risks across multiple systems (home, school, community). Despite heightened risk during adolescence, many youth, especially those with supportive parents and teachers, avoid substance use problems, and most will reduce use naturally as they transition to young adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Kimberly Bender & Jacoba Rock

  2. Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Stephen Tripodi

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  1. Kimberly Bender
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  2. Stephen Tripodi
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  3. Jacoba Rock
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Correspondence to Kimberly Bender .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Louis University, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, 63103, Missouri, USA

    Michael G. Vaughn

  2. University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, 48103, Michigan, USA

    Brian E. Perron

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Bender, K., Tripodi, S., Rock, J. (2012). Adolescents. In: Vaughn, M., Perron, B. (eds) Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Contemporary Social Work Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5357-4_11

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