Report Highlights Best Practices in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment

Teens struggling with drug or alcohol abuse have unique treatment needs. Based on a review of two decades of research on adolescent substance abuse, independent researcher Ellen Behrens, Ph.D., devised a set of best practices for the treatment of teen drug and alcohol abuse. These best practices offer parents and families insight into the type of treatment that has proven effective in helping teens achieve long-term sobriety.

The results from Dr. Behrens' report indicate that placement in SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center's teen substance abuse treatment program is an effective choice that provides lasting benefits for teens struggling with drug or alcohol abuse.

Research Indicates Specialized Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse Is Best
Through her research, Dr. Behrens concluded that adolescents who abuse drugs or alcohol should receive treatment that is specifically designed for substance use disorders. In support of this conclusion, she offered these additional findings:

• Substance abuse treatment ideally occurs in settings that are specifically designed to manage the unique issues inherent with substance abuse disorders.
• The essential elements of an adolescent substance abuse treatment program are: (1) motivation and engagement; (2) family involvement; (3) improved problem solving, social skills, and relapse prevention; (4) treatment of co-morbid psychiatric disorders; (5) increasing pro-social behaviors, peer relationships, and academic functioning; and 6) adequate duration of treatment and follow-up care.

SunHawk Specializes in Substance Abuse:

• SunHawk specializes in substance abuse treatment. By clearly defining our population we create a culture of understanding based on similar experience. This approach encourages our adolescents to focus on recovery.
• SunHawk staff is experienced in substance abuse treatment. We provide extensive addiction training and many of our staff are in their own personal recovery. Our staff utilizes the 12 Steps in their own lives, providing a valuable role model and resource to help our adolescents apply the 12 Steps in their daily lives.
• SunHawk believes in the principles of the 12 Steps. Honesty, personal accountability, reliance on a higher power, and service to others are cornerstones of our program. Our teens actively work all 12 Steps and complete intensive work on Steps 1 through 5. They are involved in daily AA meetings in the local community as well as on-site. Parents are expected to participate in their own 12 Step support groups.
• SunHawk begins relapse prevention planning at the time the family enrolls by involving the family and teen in frequent experiential and education groups. The adolescent and their sober support systems learn to identify and manage triggers and warning signs associated with their substance abuse. As part of relapse prevention, families are heavily involved in a family recovery program that includes parent workshops, family counseling, substance abuse education, 12 Step involvement, and specific family assignments teaching parents the tools to develop a family recovery plan.

Research Indicates that an Integrated Treatment Approach Is Important
Another best practice established by Dr. Behrens is that teen addiction treatment should be family-based, comprehensive, and integrated. In support of this conclusion, she offered these additional findings:

• Programs that address total life circumstances and offer comprehensive services such as vocational counseling, recreational activities, and medical services have better outcomes than programs without those services.
• Family therapy helps engage the teen in treatment and has proven effective in treating adolescent drug use. Ideally, family-based treatment should include 1) psychoeducation; 2) assistance with aftercare; 3) focus on improving communication among family members; and 4) referrals for family members to treatment and/or support programs.
• An integrated model that combines family-based interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement has the best research support. Self-support groups like AA are effective adjuncts to treatment.

SunHawk Provides Integrated Substance Abuse Treatment

• SunHawk takes a comprehensive, integrated approach to teen substance abuse recovery, with interventions that include individual therapy and group counseling, medication management, family therapy and parenting workshops, AA and NA meetings, community service, and relapse prevention using the 12 Step model. Using a holistic approach to the treatment of adolescent chemical dependency, the SunHawk program addresses every area of an adolescent's life including family, school, health, responsibility, spirituality, relationships, and self-image.
• SunHawk integrates all aspects of the program into the recovery process. As our adolescents engage in recreational activities, academics, group work, service opportunities, and physical exercise, they learn how the principles of the 12 Steps apply to every aspect of life. Concepts such as surrendering, taking a personal inventory, and holding oneself accountable are applied to the ups and downs of their daily experience.
• SunHawk provides more than 30 hours of group work per week. During group our adolescents identify the core issues that contributed to their substance abuse. Our culture creates a safe environment to openly experience and express feelings with each other, helping our teens realize they're not alone in recovery.

Research Indicates Length of Stay Makes a Difference
The best practice identified by Dr. Behrens is that substance abuse treatment programs for teens should be of sufficient duration. In support of this conclusion, she offered these additional findings:

SunHawk Length of Stay:

• SunHawk's affordability allows families to access the needed recovery time for their teen. Our adolescent recovery program blends the intensive substance abuse education, 12-Step immersion therapy, and holistic activities of a traditional drug rehabilitation program with the recovery time required for successful internalization of skills necessary to maintain long-term sobriety.
• SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center is a long-term recovery program designed to create a strong foundation for lasting sobriety and improve social functioning. Length of stay is based on each adolescent's individual circumstances and progress, as evaluated by a professional clinical team made up of master's level therapists, a psychiatrist, and licensed substance abuse counselors.

Spiritual Enrichment
Dr. Behrens' research indicates that spiritual enrichment is integral to teen substance abuse treatment. She found that spirituality is correlated to better mental health for adolescents and lower levels of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Conversely, low levels of spirituality have been associated with higher levels of teen drug and alcohol abuse.

SunHawk Emphasizes Spirituality through Daily Experiences
As a teen substance abuse treatment program based on the 12 Steps, spirituality is an essential component of the SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center model. The staff at SunHawk has found that those who are able to build a spiritual connection are in a better position to achieve lasting sobriety. Our teens participate in group therapy sessions addressing the importance of spirituality as well as community service projects that emphasize the value of giving back.

SunHawk adolescents experience spirituality as a daily reality in their lives, not as an abstract concept. Our adolescents learn the meaning of spirituality as they experience humility, empathy, and charity through regular service activities and in-depth study and practice of the 12 Steps.

About Dr. Behrens
Dr. Behrens holds a doctorate degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. She is a licensed psychologist with broad experience in teaching, research, and clinical practice. She is a member of the Standing Research Committee of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and is the owner of Canyon Research and Consulting, a company that provides independent research-based consulting services to residential treatment centers and mental health clinics to aid in program development and quality improvement.