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Structural Family Therapy in Adolescent Drug Abuse

A Hong Kong Chinese Family

University of Hong Kong

Considering the favorable outcomes of family therapy in adolescent drug treatment overseas, there has been an urgent call recently to use family-based approaches in view of the sharp rise of adolescent drug abuse in Hong Kong. This article discusses the application of structural family therapy (SFT) to an adolescent with a drug problem in Hong Kong. Implementation of SFT is fully delineated, including some of the difficulties and challenges in mobilizing the family to help the adolescent in a Chinese context. The need to involve the adolescent's parents was apparent. The treatment was assessed and evaluated by several psychometric measures from various vantage points of the adolescent, family members, and independent judges. The outcome was followed up formally at the third month after treatment and informally over a 2-year period. The follow-ups revealed that the adolescent abstained from using drugs in relation to his improved family and personal functioning.

Key Words: Chinese family • adolescent • drug abuse • structural family therapy

Clinical Case Studies, Vol. 6, No. 1, 79-99 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1534650105275989


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