Youth drug abuse treatment project (YouthDAT project)

INTERVENTION: Study Design: The participants are randomly allocated into one of four groups. All four groups receive 12 weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) and all four groups will be using Prochanska & DiClemente’s Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (also known as stages of change or TTM) to assess readiness to work on specific goals, lastly all four groups will get a six‐month Recovery Management Check‐up (RMC). This is also the outline of the treatment provided in the first group. The second group will additionally use voucher‐based contingency management, i.e. the youth will be given a voucher in the amount of dkr200 (approx. €30) every other time he or she attends a therapy session. The third and fourth group will receive 6 month of follow‐up treatment after the initial 12 week CBT & MI treatment is completed. In addition, the counsellors in group three and four will stay in contact with the youth between the 12 sessions (sending SMS reminders, encouragement and letters of current status), as well as create a contract between counsellor and youth. Lastly, the fourth group will also use voucher‐based contingency management, i.e. the youth will be given a voucher in the amount of dkr200 (approx. €30) every other time he or she attends a therapy session. The four groups are as such: 1. 12 sessions of manual‐based CBT & MI & TTM & RMC 2. 12 sessions of manual‐based CBT & MI & TTM & RMC + vouchers 3. 12 sessions of manual‐based CBT & MI & TTM & RMC + 6 month. follow‐up + contract + reminders + letters of status 4. 12 sessions of manual‐based CBT & MI & TTM & RMC + 6 month. follow‐up + contract + reminders + letters of status + vouchers Lastly, there will be a fifth case‐control group consisting of a gender, age and drug of choice matched group of youth who entered treatment in the respective treatment centers before the study began. This group will be identified through journals after intake is completed in order to ma CONDITION: Substance abuse ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Use of illicit drugs (measured pre‐treatment, during treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission) INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Youth aged 15‐25 years entering drug treatment 2. Starting treatment in one of the participating treatment centers 3. Parental consent will have to be provided for those participants who are under the age of 18 years SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1.Use of alcohol (measured pre‐treatment, during treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 2. Use of cigarettes (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 3. Treatment retention ; 4. Illegal activities (measured pre‐treatment and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 5. Psychological wellbeing (measured pre‐treatment, during treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 6. Use of drugs in social network (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission).; 7. Social support (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 8. Educational and vocational activities (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 9. Housing conditions (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission); 10. Income (measured pre‐treatment, and 3, 6, 9 and 21 month after admission)