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Introduction

In 1996, the Victorian Government published the Report, Drugs in Our Community. This Report drew attention to the need for improved access to drug and alcohol services for young people and identified gaps in service provision - particularly for those young people with complex substance-related issues (Success Works, 1998). In 1996–97 Success Works Pty Ltd undertook a major investigation for the Department of Human Services called Young People and Drugs Needs Analysis. This Project involved considerable consultation with service providers, young people and their families and/or carers.

The Young People and Drugs Needs Analysis found that there had been very little consultation with parents/carers in the past about their support needs in terms of their child’s drug use and treatment. There had also been almost no engagement of parents/carers in the development of treatment options.

The aim of the current Project was to examine the ways in which the Drug Treatment Service System can best work with families and/or carers of young people with problematic substance use, in order to engage them effectively in the treatment process for the young person. It also aims to provide timely support to the family and to address some of the needs of the family/carer.

Contents

Entire document in PDF format

Acknowledgements
Executive Summary

Themes from the Literature
Survey of Families and Young People
Survey of Current Practice
Approaches to Working with Families
Discussion and Recommendations
Summary of Recommendations

1. Introduction

1.1 Project Methodology

2. Themes from the Literature

2.1 Substance Abuse and Young People
2.2 Rationale for a Focus on Families in Treatment for Adolescents
2.3 Models of Intervention
2.4 Summary

3. Survey of Families and Young People

3.1 Background Details of Families and Young People
3.2 Experiences of Family Members of Young People with Problematic Substance Use
3.3 Support Services for Family Members
3.4 Family Involvement in the Young Person’s Treatment Program
3.5 Summary

4. Survey of Current Practice

4.1 Treatment Services Provided to Young People
4.2 Involvement of Families in the Treatment Process with Young People
4.3 Models of Service
4.4 Key Issues in Working with Young People and Their Families
4.5 Specific Issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
4.6 Issues for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
4.7 Supporting Young People’s Families
4.8 Case Studies of Service Models that Engage Families and Young People
4.9 Organisational Features that Contribute to Successful Interventions
4.10 External Factors which Assist Successful Intervention
4.11 Summary

5. Approaches to Working with Families

5.1 Family Inclusive Practice
5.2 Facilitated Support Groups
5.3 Family Engagement in Treatment
5.4 Summary

6. Discussion and Recommendations

6.1 Improving Family Involvement and Support
6.2 Adoption of New Conceptual Frameworks
6.3 Overall Training Strategy
6.4 Active Engagement in Treatment
6.5 Episode of Care
6.6 First Point of Contact
6.7 Self-Help Groups
6.8 Summary of Recommendations

Appendix 1—Bibliography
Appendix 2—Services Interviewed
Appendix 3—Case Studies

Australian Case Studies
Overseas Case Studies
Section One: Your Organisation
Section Two: You, The Worker
Section Three: Phases of Intervention

The entire document is available in PDF format.
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Related Drug Treatment information
on the Public Health site