Adolescent Substance-Use Frequency Following Self-Help Group Attendance and Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

Despite the heterogeneity of posttreatment outcomes, the likelihood of relapse is often dependent on several factors, including participation in continuing care services such as self-help groups. However, few studies have examined the use of self-help groups among adolescent outpatients. Therefore, in this study, investigators examined self-help group attendance among male and female adolescents during the three-month time period immediately following outpatient substance abuse treatment. Gender differences were found in regard to self-efficacy, coping, and severity of substance-related problems. A path model indicated that environmental risk provided the greatest total effect on substance-use frequency. Implications for research and practice are reviewed.