The Effects of Skills and Intentions to Use Drugs on Posttreatment Drug Use of Adolescents

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between (a) social, cognitive, and behavioral skills; (b) self-reported intentions to use drugs and alcohol following treatment; and (c) later drug and alcohol use for a sample of 130 adolescents. Social, problem solving, self-control, and drug and alcohol avoidance skills were significantly related to marijuana use, variety and severity of drug use, and to the number of drug-free months for female subjects at 12-month follow-up. These skills did not have a statistically significant direct effect on any measured drug outcomes for males. However, skills did lower male subjects' intentions to use drugs or alcohol. Decreased intentions to use, in turn, were associated with less drug and alcohol use, suggesting an indirect relationship between skills and reductions in drug and alcohol use among males at 12-month follow-up. Implications for the treatment of adolescents who engage in drug and alcohol use are discussed.