Recovery 2.0: Using Technology to Engage Adolescents in Sober Behavior

As with many public health-related illnesses, continuing care is a necessary component for recovery from a substance use disorder. Adolescent treatment providers are in need of additional evidence-based recovery support services because existing services were designed for adult populations. To address this issue, the Recovery Services for Adolescents and Families (RSAF) program is testing three promising recovery supports: (1) telephone monitoring and support calls, (2) recovery-oriented social networking website, and (3) a family program using the Community Reinforcement Approach Family Training (CRAFT) method. Four sites in the U.S. are involved in the RSAF project including Bloomington, Illinois; Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Seattle, Washington; and Tucson, Arizona. The project protocol engages adolescents after they leave treatment. Adolescents are contacted by a trained telephone support volunteer via phone or text message to check on the youth's recovery experience and their progress toward short and long term goals. Adolescents also participate in a moderated social networking website designed for youth engaged in the recovery process. Additionally, caregivers participate in family groups that are based on the CRAFT model, which is a cognitive-behavioral approach that trains caregivers to use behavioral principles to encourage their adolescents in recovery and to engage the family in recovery activities. The presenter will offer descriptive information of project participants (n=202) and results of the recovery support services since October 2009 (e.g., more than 1100 completed telephone/text support calls, Google Analytics highlighting the utilization of the social networking site, participant satisfaction). The preliminary data imply promise for the utilization of health informatics technologies within the addiction field. Furthermore, the broader public health implications include the progression of innovative continuing care services.