This is a brief intervention using a cognitive behavioral and motivational approach for adolescents aged 14 to 18 whose mother tongue is English or Spanish. The aim is to reduce alcohol and substance use, as well as aggressive behavior.
The intervention consists of three components:
1) Motivational interaction between adolescent and therapist;
2) Cognitive behavioral approach for planning, implementing, and maintaining behavioral changes related to substance use; and
3) A harm reduction perspective for the treatment of addictive behaviors.
The program is applied individually, five times a week, and involves monitoring, counseling, homework, and relapse prevention procedures. The program is an intermediate step between other interventions for the treatment of abuse of alcohol and other drugs.