title: The effects of Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) on parent substance use and the association between parent and adolescent substance use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of family therapy for adolescent substance use on parent substance use have not been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) on parent substance use, and the relationship between parent substance use and adolescent substance use.
  
  
  METHODS
  480 adolescents and parents were randomized to BSFT or Treatment as Usual (TAU) across eight outpatient treatment programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parent substance use was assessed at baseline and at 12months post-randomization. Adolescent substance use was assessed at baseline and monthly for 12months post-randomization. Family functioning was assessed at baseline, 4, 8, and 12months post-randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents in BSFT significantly decreased their alcohol use as measured by the ASI composite score from baseline to 12months (χ(2)(1)=4.46, p=.04). Change in family functioning mediated the relationship between Treatment Condition and change in parent alcohol use. Children of parents who reported drug use at baseline had three times as many days of reported substance use at baseline compared with children of parents who did not use or only used alcohol (χ(2)(2)=7.58, p=.02). Adolescents in BSFT had a significantly lower trajectory of substance use than those in TAU (β=-7.82, p<.001) if their parents used drugs at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BSFT is effective in reducing alcohol use in parents, and in reducing adolescents' substance use in families where parents were using drugs at baseline. BSFT may also decrease alcohol use among parents by improving family functioning.
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, United States. Electronic address: vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Viviana E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Horigian
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Feaster
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: Ahnalee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brincks
authors.affiliation: Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403, United States. Electronic address: mrobbins@ori.org.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: María Alejandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33136, United States.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szapocznik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Adolescent substance use; Effectiveness research; Family therapy; Parent substance use