Adolescent Substance Abuse Intervention Series Module Five: Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach

Description:

This course presents an evidence-based treatment which provides guidance on how to prepare for and conduct the adolescent community reinforcement approach (ACRA) - intervention sessions with adolescents and caregivers. The manual includes examples of exchanges between therapists and adolescents to illustrate what happens in actual ACRA sessions. Much of the adolescent community reinforcement approach is based on previous work using a community reinforcement approach (CRA) (Meyers & Smith, 1995). The CRA intervention was adapted for use with adolescents who abuse or are dependent on marijuana. One modification is the inclusion of urine screening for drugs, a procedure commonly used in adolescent substance abuse treatment. Other modifications of CRA used in this manual include (1) the addition of specific sessions for a caregiver only and for a caregiver and an adolescent together, (2) changes in the Happiness Scale and Goals of Counseling forms so that the categories are relevant to adolescents, (3) inclusion of urine-screening feedback procedures, (4) inclusion of dialog representative of interchanges between adolescents and therapists, and (5) requirements that snacks be provided routinely for the adolescents receiving the intervention. Some CRA procedures were eliminated (e.g., use of disulfiram, marital therapy) because they were not relevant for adolescents.

Public Domain Notice:  All material appearing in this report except that taken directly from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA or CSAT. Citation of the source is appreciated. However, this publication may not be reproduced or distributed for a fee without the specific, written authorization of the Office of Communications, SAMHSA, DHHS.  The fee you are paying for this course is for the credits only the materials are provided at no charge.

Citation:  Godley SH, Meyers RJ, Smith JE, Karvinen T, Titus JC, Godley MD, Dent G, Passetti L, Kelberg P. The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach for Adolescent Cannabis Users, Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) Series, Volume 4. DHHS Pub. No. 01–3489. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001.

Objectives:  

1. Participant will be able to describe the adolescent community reinforcement approach.

2. Participant will be able to discuss the role of rapport building and motivation enhancement

3. Participant will be able to complete functional analysis for substance abuse and prosocial behaviors

4. Participant will be able to complete ACRA treatment planning utilizing the Happiness Scale and the Goals of Counseling

5. Participant will be able to increase prosocial recreation using reinforces sampling and systematic encouragement.

6. Participant will be able to implement relapse prevention including early warnings, functional analysis, behavioral chains, refusal training, and cognitive restructuring.

7. Participant will be able to assess and teach communication skills, using techniques and role play.

8. Participant will be able to assist in problem definition, solution brainstorming, and resolution.

9. Participant will be able to implement and document urine testing.

10. Participant will be able to involve caregivers in the ACRA approach including enhancing motivators, and service needs.

11. Participant will be able to teach the caregiver-adolescent relationship skills including communication, problem-solving, reminders and reinforcers, treatment closure, and so on.

12. Participant will be able to intervene with dropout issues, motivation problems, job seeking, anger management, managing assignments, and treatment activities such as role plays.

CE Credits: 20

CE Broker #: 10-1165537

Content Area:  Adolescent Issues, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Helping Relationship, Treatment Knowledge,  Counseling, Classes in a Series

Agenda:

Hour One - Two:  Overview of the Treatment Model and Manual, Key Concepts of ACRA.

Hour Three - Five: Procedure 1: Functional Analysis of Substance Use Behavior, Procedure 2: Functional Analysis of Prosocial Behaviors. 

Hour Six – Ten:  Procedure 3: The Happiness Scale and the Goals of Counseling , Procedure 4:  Increasing Prosocial Recreation. 

Hour Eleven – Twelve:  Procedure 5: Relapse Prevention Skills, Procedure 6: Communication Skills. 

Hour Thirteen – Fourteen:  Procedure 7: Problem-Solving Skills Training , Procedure 8: Urine Testing , Procedure 9: Caregiver Overview, Rapport Building, and Motivation. 

Hour Fifteen – Sixteen:  Procedure 10: Caregiver Communication Skills Training , Procedure 11: Caregiver–Adolescent Relationship Skills , Procedure 12: Treatment Closure. 

Hour Seventeen – Eighteen:  Optional Procedure 1: Dealing With Failure To Attend , Optional Procedure 2: Job-Seeking Skills, Optional Procedure 3: Anger Management. 

Hour Nineteen – Twenty  Post Test and Evaluation.

Purpose:  To prepare practitioners to utilize the Communtiy Reinforcement Model with substance abusing adilescents.