Effectiveness of Guided Adolescent Problem Solving on Craving, Attitude Toward Drug Abuse and Coping Strategies in Adolescents with Substance Abuse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of guided adolescent problem solving method on craving, attitudes toward drug abuse and coping strategies in adolescents with substance abuse. In a quasi-experimental study with pretest/posttest design, 30 misdemeanor offending adolescents who were resident of a reformatory center (Tehran Correcting and Training Center) participated in this study and every pair of adolescents were randomly allocated in two experimental and control groups. All of these adolescents had history of drug abuse in the past year. The participants in both groups were assessed by Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Drug Belief Questionnaire, and Craving Abuse Questionnaire as well as urine toxicology tests. In the experimental group, guided adolescent problem solving was provided one session in each week for five successive weeks. In each session, 90 and 30 minutes were allocated to intervention and assessment, respectively. Three week after the last session of intervention, posttest was performed for both experimental and control groups. Reliable change index and covariance analysis were used for data analysis. There were statistically significant difference between groups in terms of craving, believes related to drug abuse and verbal expression of emotions. Guided adolescent problem solving was effective on improving the coping strategies in adolescents with drug abuse. Expression of emotions has the key role in reducing the craving and attitude toward drug abuse in adolescents.