Elements of effective treatment for adolescent drug abusers: Family communication, cohesion and adaptability

The present study examines the connection between parent and adolescent communication and drug abuse treatment success using three measures: (a) the Family Adaptability and Communication Evaluation Scale (FACES-II), (b) the Parent Adolescent Communication Scale (PAC), and (c) the Drug Severity Index (DSI). There is a correlation between the quality of and effectiveness of communication in families that assists in treating adolescent drug abusers. This study uses data collected through a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) research project conducted at the Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment (formerly Philadelphia Psychiatric Center) in the early 1980s which yielded significant results on all three measures that continue to support the recommendation of bolstering and encouraging communication between adolescents and their parents.