title: A group therapy program for opioid-dependent adolescents and their parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opioid dependence is a significant problem for adolescents in the United States. Psychosocial treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorders may be effective, although it has not been well studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper describes a 13-week psychoeducational group therapy program with parallel tracks for adolescents with opioid use disorders and their parents attending an outpatient substance use program in a children's hospital. In addition to group therapy, participating adolescents received medical care, including medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence, drug testing, medical follow-up, psychopharmacology, individual counseling, and parent guidance. Data were collected as part of a quality improvement project for the program. Forty-two adolescents and 72 parents attended the group program between 2006 and 2009. Frequencies were computed and a weighted kappa was used to assess agreement between adolescent and parent reports of use and driving risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 42 adolescents participating in the 13-week group program, 36 (86%) completed 3 or more group sessions, and 24 (57%) completed 10 or more sessions. Twenty-two (52%) adolescent participants reported abstinence from all substances on each of their weekly evaluations. Adolescent-parent agreement for substance use was good to very good: weighted kappa (95% confidence interval) .76 (.60, .87), but poor for driving risk, weighted kappa .11 (-.20, .40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Completion rates and self-report of outcomes from this group program indicate promise and warrant further testing.
authors.affiliation: a Adolescent Substance Abuse Program, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugatch
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGuiness
authors.forename: Lon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sherritt
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; group therapy, parents; opioid-related disorders; substance use treatment