Adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) previously completed a randomized controlled outpatient aftercare study (Y. Kaminer, J. A. Burleson, & R. H. Burke, 2008) in which they were randomly assigned to in-person, brief telephone, or no-active aftercare. Youth were assessed at end of aftercare and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up on frequency and quantity of alcohol use.
It was predicted that active aftercare (in-person and brief telephone) would be superior to no-active aftercare in reducing alcohol use, as shown in the original study.
No subject or therapy group attributes were significant moderators of outcome.
Active aftercare in general maintained short-term favorable effects by reducing relapse in youth with AUD and should be considered as part of standard procedures in therapeutic interventions for all alcohol and other substance use.
In-person and the brief telephone procedures did not differ in their effectiveness.
Structured communications with AUD youth during and after treatment by use of electronic technology rather than in-person contact might therefore be more fully investigated.
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