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Effects of Age Composition of 12-Step Groups on Adolescent 12-Step Participation and Substance Use Outcome

NCJ Number
213144
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: 2005 Pages: 63-72
Author(s)
John F. Kelly; Mark G. Myers; Sandra A. Brown
Date Published
2005
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of the predominantly adult composition of 12-step groups on adolescent 12-step participation and substance use outcome.
Abstract
Overall, the findings suggest that youth attending 12-step meetings with more similar age peers present are more likely to view 12-step attendance as important to their recovery efforts and possibly more likely involved in working the steps. A study sample of 74 adolescents were recruited during inpatient substance abuse treatment, consecutively at 2 Minnesota model programs in San Diego, CA, and followed for 3 and 6 months. Participants were on average 16 years old, with more than half female (62 percent), primarily white (70 percent), and included Hispanics (18 percent), African-Americans (8 percent), and Asian/Pacific Islanders (4 percent). The reported drugs used were marijuana (42 percent), amphetamines (30 percent), and alcohol (13 percent). Measures used for the study include demographics, substance involvement, twelve-step involvement, and age composition of attended meetings. It is recommended that future research with larger samples examine the unique effects of age similarity on 12-step attendance rates and fellowship involvement and related effects on the frequency and intensity of post-treatment relapse. Table, figure, references