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Change for the BEST: Family Changes for Parents Coping with Youth Substance Abuse
Author(s) -
Bamberg John,
Toumbourou John W.,
Blyth Anne,
Forer Danielle
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0814-723X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1467-8438.2001.tb01326.x
Subject(s) - substance abuse , coping (psychology) , psychology , clinical psychology , intervention (counseling) , substance use , substance abuse prevention , psychiatry , family therapy
This paper reports family changes for participants in a program for parents coping with youth substance abuse. The Behavioural Exchange Systems Training (BEST) program is a professionally‐led, parent training intervention. During 1996 and 1997, six groups of parents participated in the program. High levels of depression were observed at intake, and symptoms demonstrated a stable reduction in association with exposure to the program. Parents tended to achieve success in developing common strategies for assertively managing family problems, though couples from more complex blended families found this more difficult. Adolescent improvements were noted during the weeks observed. A two‐year follow‐up conducted with a subset of families revealed that parents continued to report that the intervention had helped them cope with youth drug abuse.