Citation

Karavalaki M, Shumaker D. Humanist. Psychol. 2016; 44(4): 381-399.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Division 32 of the American Psychological Association, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/hum0000036

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article offers an existential-integrative (EI; Schneider, 2008) treatment of adolescent substance abuse. Adolescence is a time of great transition and search for identity, meaning, and purpose in life. Struggles during this developmental stage are reflected in internalizing disorders, including depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide, as well as externalizing disorders, including impulse and conduct/behavioral disorders. The authors argue that adolescents who experience higher levels of existential anxiety will be at increased risk for the development of a substance abuse disorder. Viewed within this framework, alcohol and drug use may serve a twofold purpose: (a) it acts as an escape from the throes of existential anxiety and (b) it provides the adolescent with a pseudo identity as the "stoner," the "wild child," the "rebel," and so forth To support this argument, we (a) briefly review key developmental characteristics of adolescence and the experience of existential anxiety within this stage of development, (b) review the prevalence, incidence, and sequelae of adolescent substance abuse, (c) review existing theoretical conceptualizations of adolescent substance abuse, and (d) propose ways EI approaches can be incorporated with the existing empirically supported treatments to improve outcome. © 2016 American Psychological Association.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Substance abuse; Existential-integrative (EI) treatment