@article{ref1,
title="Treatment outcome for adolescents abusing alcohol and cannabis: how many 'reliably improve'?",
journal="Irish medical journal",
year="2015",
author="Smyth, B. P. and Kelly, A. and Barry, J. and Cullen, W. and Darker, C.",
volume="108",
number="5",
pages="137-139",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0332-3102",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}