Social work research on interventions for adolescent substance misuse: A systematic review of the literature

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to explore the empirical research conducted by social workers on interventions for adolescents with substance use problems. This systematic review analyzed the content of 17 empirically researched articles written over the last 10 years. Results of this literature review found that multidimensional interventions that include individual, group, family, and community-based treatment components seem to have the largest effect for treating adolescents with substance use compared to other modes of treatment. Though some of the individual, family, and community-based interventions reduced substance use and increased abstinence rates among adolescents, most were found to be marginally effective or of uncertain effectiveness for reducing drug and alcohol use. The findings from the present review indicate that social workers' contribution to this research area is improving but limited to some extent. Recommendations for future research on interventions for adolescents with substance use problems are also presented.