Strengths-oriented family therapy for adolescents with substance abuse problems.

Adolescent substance abuse continues to be a societal problem for which we need high quality, cost-effective treatments. That is, substance use and abuse by adolescents is associated with a more rapid progression into addiction, delayed entry into adult roles (that is, adult relationships, employment, and so forth), and high societal costs (Chambers, Taylor, & Potenza, 2003; Kandel, Davies, Karus, &Yamaguchi, 1986; Miller, Levy, Spicer, &Taylor, 2006).Thus, we need to expand treatment options for adolescents with substance abuse problems. This article describes a new treatment program, developed by social workers, called Strengths-Oriented Family Therapy (SOFT). Specifically, we describe the rationale for SOFT, intervention techniques, and the linkages with social work values.