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Including the siblings of youth substance abusers in a parent-focused intervention : a pilot test of the best plus program

journal contribution
posted on 2008-09-01, 00:00 authored by J Bamberg, John ToumbourouJohn Toumbourou, R Marks
Substance use is common among young people and can escalate into significant problems for affected individuals and their families. Family responses can influence the course of youth substance use and its consequences for family members, including parents and siblings. Family-level interventions developed to date have neglected the important role that siblings can play. This article describes a pilot test of an intervention designed to assist parents and siblings affected by youth substance use and related problems. The BEST Plus intervention consisting of professionally-led, multifamily groups sequenced over eight sessions is described with reference to the intended therapeutic processes. Professionally observed and self-reported changes for family participants including siblings suggested that the program had a beneficial therapeutic impact. This evaluation of early impacts suggests the BEST Plus program
offers a promising means of assisting families to respond to substance use problems in young people.

History

Journal

Journal of psychoactive drugs : a multidisciplinary forum

Volume

40

Pagination

281-291

Location

San Francisco, Calif.

ISSN

0279-1072

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2008, Taylor & Francis

Issue

3

Publisher

Routledge