Citation

Smyth BP, Kelly A, Barry J, Cullen W, Darker C. Ir. Med. J. 2015; 108(5): 137-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Winstone Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

26062238

Abstract

Alcohol and cannabis are the primary substances contributing to referrals of adolescents to substance abuse treatment services. Their outcome has not been examined in Ireland. A three month follow-up was conducted in an outpatient adolescent treatment program. We followed up 35 high risk users of alcohol and 55 high risk users of cannabis. Although the high risk drinkers achieved a significant reduction in median number of days drinking (p = 0.004), only four (11 %) were abstinent at follow up. A further five (14%) achieved a reliable reduction in days of drinking. The high risk cannabis users demonstrated a significant drop in median days of use (p < 0.001), although only six (11%) were abstinent at follow up. A further 20 (36%) achieved a reliable reduction in days of use. Calculation of reliable change allows examination of outcomes which fall short of the elusive goal of abstinence.

Language: en