One-year Posttreatment Outcome of Cannabis-dependent Adolescents

Aims This study sought to determine the relationship between treatment modality, treatment completion, and reduction in cannabis use among adolescents with cannabis dependence, 1 year after terminating treatment from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Survey for Adolescents Programs. Methods Adolescents were treated in residential, intensive outpatient, or short-term inpatient programs. Results Fifty-seven percent completed the follow-up interview. Completing treatment was found to be more closely associated with reduced cannabis use and remission than any specific treatment modality. Further, treatment completion, higher motivation, lower baseline cannabis use, and female sex were associated with an increased likelihood of remission. Discussion Although a high proportion were involved in criminal activities and had coexisting mental disorders, these variables did not predict failure to benefit from treatment. These “hard to treat” adolescents may have a better prognosis than has been previously accepted by clinical lore. Treatment may help to alter the developmental trajectory of cannabis-dependent adolescents with serious liabilities.