Method for Diagnosing and Planning the Treatment of Adolescent Drug Abusers (The Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) Instrument)

• NCJ Number: 124585
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (1989) Pages: 285-312
• Author(s): A S Friedman; A Utada
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 28 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01DA03754
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) is a standardized research instrument that provides a method for a comprehensive evaluation of an adolescent's problems and life situation, in addition to an evaluation of the pattern and extent of the youth's substance abuse behavior.

Abstract

The instrument contains 150 items and is used in a structured interview format. It is modeled after the Addiction Severity Index used for adults. The interviewer uses 10-point severity ratings, and composite scores are developed for each of 9 life problem areas that are often relevant to the treatment needs of adolescent drug abuse clients. These life areas are medical, school, employment, social, family, psychological, legal, alcohol, and drugs. A standardization sample for the instrument consisted of 1,042 youths admitted to 6 outpatient programs, 3 residential nonhospital programs, and 3 hospital programs. Experience with the instrument indicates that the use of ADAD can improve matching of individual adolescents with treatment settings and types of programs and can aid in the development of an individualized treatment plan. Tables and 17 references.