SuZir
Well-Known Member
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2003160-2,00.html
Article talks, with actually mentioning many scientific studies, about risks of group therapy for (especially young) substance abusers. It seems that kids, especially those who are in earlier states of substance abuse can in fact turn out worse if they get standard group therapy based substance abuse treatment or are sent to rehab than if nothing is done. And more favourable outcomes come from individual and family therapy and a teen staying home and being kept away from other recovering substance abusers.
Reason for this, that kids who have used more or have had worse behaviours are considered cooler and being higher in hierarchy by other kids and kids with less use and less serious behaviours emulate those behaviours. And that 'war stories' kids hear in group therapy make them interested to try also substances they haven't used before.
The article implies, that if group therapy or support groups are used, one should be careful to place only kids with similar type and severity of issues to one group.
Article talks, with actually mentioning many scientific studies, about risks of group therapy for (especially young) substance abusers. It seems that kids, especially those who are in earlier states of substance abuse can in fact turn out worse if they get standard group therapy based substance abuse treatment or are sent to rehab than if nothing is done. And more favourable outcomes come from individual and family therapy and a teen staying home and being kept away from other recovering substance abusers.
Reason for this, that kids who have used more or have had worse behaviours are considered cooler and being higher in hierarchy by other kids and kids with less use and less serious behaviours emulate those behaviours. And that 'war stories' kids hear in group therapy make them interested to try also substances they haven't used before.
The article implies, that if group therapy or support groups are used, one should be careful to place only kids with similar type and severity of issues to one group.