Youth whose substance use disorder is severe enough to require residential treatment are especially vulnerable to relapse after discharge to the community. Aftercare programs have been recommended for adults and adolescents as a way to maintain residential treatment gains but linkage to post-residential services for patients in publicly funded treatment systems are the exception rather than the rule. In a statewide analysis of residential discharges in Illinois, only 32 percent enrolled in another treatment program within 90 days following treatment. Moreover, when linkage does occur retention presents yet another problem. Not surprisingly, research shows that relapse rates of 60 percent are common for adolescents within the first 90 days after discharge from residential treatment. What is needed are improved methods of reaching youth combined with youth-specific interventions.
In 1997 the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism awarded Chestnut Health Systems a 5 year grant to study the effectiveness of an assertive aftercare protocol (AAP) specifically designed for adolescents with severe substance use disorders. AAP delivers services in the natural environment, and uses an evidenced-based intervention and case management to facilitate post-residential recovery. Preliminary findings from a randomized field experiment suggest that it is superior to aftercare as usual in terms of linkage, retention, and substance use outcomes. This presentation will present the results of this study and draw distinctions between AAP intervention methods and usual treatment as well as the implications for adopting this model in practice settings. Finally, suggestions for future research on this model will be made.
Learning Objectives: After this presentation, attendees will be able to describe assetive aftercare, and discuss the reasons for its use.
Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.