Early Intervention for Minors in Possession of Alcohol/Drugs: A Feasibility Study

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Delinquency; Substance Use Disorder
• Interventions: Other: Drug Education for adolescents; Other: Motivational Enhancement Therapy /Adol and PW for parents; Other: Drug Education for adolescents, Parenting Wisely for parents; Other: Motivational Enhancement Therapy for adolescents

• Registration Number: NCT01616212
• Lead Sponsor: Oregon Research Institute

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate two brief, sustainable interventions for a sample of 280 adolescents charged with an initial drug-related offense: Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) intervention for youth and the Parenting Wisely (PW) intervention for parents. Families are assessed for adolescent substance use, HIV-risk, recidivist substance-related offenses, treatment entry, and other areas of individual and family functioning.

It is expected that the combined MET+PW interventions will be more effective than a treatment-as-usual intervention (drug education group) for adolescents with parents not participating in PW.

Detailed Description

Illicit substance use and related problems among adolescents has been consistently high over the past decade and remains one of the most pressing public health concerns in the United States. The objective of this study is to conduct a pilot investigation of the feasibility and effectiveness of two brief empirically based treatments for adolescent substance abuse when implemented as early interventions for youth arrested and charged with first- or second-offense possession of alcohol or drugs. The two examined interventions are Motivational Enhancement therapy (MET) and Parenting Wisely (PW).

Over a one-year period, 280 adolescents and their parents will be referred to the study by the Juvenile Justice Centers in two Oregon counties within the Portland metro area. Families will be randomized to one of four intervention conditions; youth will receive either MET or a drug education intervention (EDUC), and the PW intervention for parents is present or absent. Participants will be assessed for adolescent substance use, HIV-risk, recidivist substance-related offenses, treatment entry, and other areas of individual and family functioning at intake and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-07
• Study First Submitted: 2012-05-29
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-06-07
• Study First Posted: 2012-06-11
• Primary Completion: 2014-09
• Study Completion: 2014-09
• Status Verified: 2014-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-10-08
• Last Update Posted: 2014-10-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 239

Inclusion Criteria

1. 13 - 17 years of age
2. Referral for a 1st or 2nd Minor in Possession (Alcohol) or Less Than an Ounce (Marijuana) offense
3. Adolescents living at home with at least one parent willing to participate in the study
4. Adolescents with sufficient English-language ability to permit participation in the interventions
5. Parent(s) with sufficient English- or Spanish-language ability to complete the English- or Spanish-language versions of PW and the assessment

Exclusion Criteria

1. Evidence of psychotic or organic state of sufficient severity to interfere with understanding study procedures
2. Danger to self and/or services other than outpatient treatment are required

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TX4	Drug Education for adolescents	Drug Education for adolescents
TX1	Motivational Enhancement Therapy /Adol and PW for parents	Motivational Enhancement Therapy for adolescents, Parenting Wisely for parents
TX3	Drug Education for adolescents, Parenting Wisely for parents	Drug Education for adolescents, Parenting Wisely for parents
TX 2	Motivational Enhancement Therapy for adolescents	Motivational Enhancement Therapy for adolescents

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adolescent Substance Use and Related Problems	Change from Baseline at 6 months	The questionnaire used is called the Time Line Follow Back.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dysfunctional Discipline Practices	Change from Baseline at 6 months	The questionnaire used to obtain this information is called Parenting Scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oregon Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Portland, Oregon, United States