Parent Training to Prevent Adolescent Drug Use: An Educational Model

Abstract

The authors submit that drug use is a learned behavior and occurs initially among normal youth from a variety of family circumstances, rather than being confined to a deficient subset of the youth population. By educating parents to give youth positive reinforcement rather than negative responses in the face of adolescent conflict or rebellion, they believe youthful self-esteem can be enhanced within the family, making it unnecessary for young people to seek approval from drug-using peers. Through single or multiple-family sessions, parents learn to interact constructively with their children. Positive rather than negative interaction patterns are taught— less parental criticism, complaining and punishment and more praise, positive involvement and encouragement.