Date of Award
1-1-2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Social Work
First Advisor
Julie A. Laser, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Martha Parker
Third Advisor
David Blair
Fourth Advisor
Shelley Smith-Acuna
Keywords
Adolescent, Drug, Family, Substance, Systems, Therapy
Abstract
Family systems therapy is a way of working with individuals, couples, families, or a group of people that emphasizes relationships and a person's/family's greater "system" as important factors in establishing change and health (Haley, 1976; Minuchin, 1974). Treating adolescent substance abuse with family systems therapy has been demonstrated in the literature as being an effective method of intervention (Coatsworth, Santisteban, McBride, & Szapocznik, 2001; Kumfer & Alvarado, 2003; Leichtling, Gabriel, Lewis & Vander Ley, 2006; Liddle, 2002; Liddle et al., 2001; Rowe & Liddle, 2003), as the various ecological and epidemiological factors associated with adolescent substance abuse can be addressed effectively with family systems work (Cunningham & Henggler, 1999; Kaufman & Kaufman, 1979; Liddle et al., 2001; Szapocznik & Williams, 2000). The dissertation used a sample of 71 families who participated in a family systems therapy intensive outpatient substance abuse program in the greater metro-Denver area from 2006 to mid-2008. The youth, aged 13-17 years old, tended to be highly involved with substance abuse, were not motivated to change, and were not interested in participating in treatment. A three-month follow-up survey was evaluated and demonstrated that both youth and parents/guardians found that that family systems therapy was effective in increasing the family's functioning, decreasing the youth's substance use, increasing the youth's school performance, and decreasing the youth's court involvement.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Darin J. Wallis
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
235 p.
Recommended Citation
Wallis, Darin J., "Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Does Family Systems Therapy Improve Family Functioning and Decrease Drug Use?" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 683.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/683
Copyright date
2013
Discipline
Social work