First author, year of publication | Study design, year of study | Intervention(s), length of treatment | Sample | Eligibility | Age range, years (%m male) | Data collection | Outcome/effect | Risk of bias |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertella et al. (2012) | Before-after study with no control group January 2002-July 2010 | Residential substance use program Individual counselling, family counselling, living skills training, vocational/educational training, journaling and recreational activities Continuing care in the community Up to 3 month stay | Sample size: 132 | 14–18 years old Cannabis primary drug Completed ≥ 30 days of treatment | 14–18 years (77%m) | Pre-treatment 3-month follow-up | Reduced anxiety, paranoia and interpersonal sensitivity associated with reduced cannabis use on follow-up | Low |
Bushmob (2014) | Observational study/Case study/Evaluation 2009 | Bush adventure therapy, counselling, individual therapy and continuing care 5-day horse trek | Sample size: 65 | 6–80 years old young people with substance abuse issues, family and community members | 6–80 years (%m not stated) | Observations during trek | Reduced substance use and self-harm, and improved wellbeing | High |
Calabria et al. (2011) | Systematic review 2005–2009 | Individual intervention studies on young people experiencing alcohol-related harm | 9 studies | Published in English Intervention studies | Across studies: 11–25 years, (17–90%m) | 10 electronic databases, reference lists | None of the included studies had consistently strong methodology Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), family therapy and community reinforcement appeared to be the more successful approaches | Moderate |
Calabria et al. (2012) | Systematic review 2003–2010 | Family-based interventions for alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harm in Indigenous communities | 19 studies | Published in English Family-based interventions | Across studies: 12–78 years Targeting problem drinkers: (17–100%m) Targeting family members (0–31%m) | 11 electronic databases, reference lists | 18 family-based interventions yielded a positive effect in Decreased alcohol consumption Improved individual and family coping and functioning | High |
Doran et al. (2017) | Evidence check rapid literature review January 2007-March 2017 | Community, school-based and therapeutic interventions targeted at Aboriginal youth at risk of AOD-related harm | 52 studies | Published in English Indigenous young people Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) interventions | Across studies: Participant age range and %m not stated | 9 electronic databases, consultation with experts | Successful AOD interventions for Indigenous young people require strong community and cultural engagement and support that is multi-faceted and flexible, addressing both individual, community and systemic issues | Moderate |
Foster et al. (2010) | Participant observation/ ethnographic study 2006 | Residential therapeutic community: journaling encounter groups, vocational education Average length of stay: 40 days Program length: 3 months | Sample size: 19 | 14–18 years old substance dependence | 14–18 years (68%m) | 4 months participant observation and informal interviews | Tailored recreation, art therapy and vocational education preferred Negative reactions to journaling and encounter group sessions | Moderate |
Green et al. (2013) | Qualitative study 2009–2010 | The function of relationships in youth-focused AOD service: outreach, day programs, residential withdrawal and residential rehabilitation Primary drugs of concern: cannabis alcohol, and heroin Length of treatment: Residential withdrawal: up to 2 weeks) Residential rehabilitation: up to 6 months | Sample size: 42 | Young people aged 15–22 years who were clients Stable in AOD use and mental health Ability to reflect on experiences Excluded if recent experience of traumatic events or in emotional distress | 15–22 years (52.4%m) | Semi-structured interviews | Validating relationships with family, peers and service providers are key to success | Low |
Hides et al. (2010) | Before-after study with no control group Year not stated | Self-help for alcohol/other drug use and depression – for young people 10 sessions of individual integrated CBT treatment (incorporating motivational interviewing (MI) and mindfulness) Intervention: Up to 20 weeks | Sample size: 60 | 15–25 years old Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Substance Use Disorder or risky alcohol/drug use English speaking Excluded if using antidepressants within the past 30 days and/or a current/past history of psychosis | 15–25 years (56.7%m) | Assessment at baseline, mid-treatment (10 weeks), post-treatment (20 weeks) and 6 months follow-up (44 weeks) | Integrated CBT treatment associated with significant improvements in depression, anxiety, cognition, substance use and coping skills at follow-up | Moderate |
Hides et al. (2011) | Non-RCT (parallel group) 2006–2008 | Standard care (SC): Case management and brief MI Intervention: SC plus CBT and MI Timeframe: Up to 12 weeks Substance misuse: mainly alcohol and cannabis | Sample size: 106 SC (n = 28) SC + CBT/MI (n = 60) | 16–25 years old Comorbid depression and substance misuse Accessing treatment at youth AOD service English speaking No past/current psychosis | 16–25 years (63%m) | Assessment at baseline, 3 months and 6 months | SC + CBT/MI group showed significant reductions in depression and cannabis use and increased social contact and motivation to change at 3-month follow-up compared to the SC group Both groups achieved significant improvements in functioning and quality of life at 6 months follow-up | Moderate |
Hides et al. (2013) | RCT (parallel group), Year not stated | Assessment/Feedback Information (AFI) group: 1 session brief assessment, general assessment feedback Brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) intervention group: 2–3 sessions of BMI with personalised assessment feedback, psychoeducation and brief coping skills training | Sample size: 61 | 16–25 years old Accessing a specialist youth mental health primary care service using cannabis and/or alcohol English speaking No past/current psychosis | 16–25 years (55.7%m) | Assessment at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months | BMI more effective in reducing alcohol use and psychological distress and achieving a more rapid reduction in cannabis use than AFI. No significant differences in both groups for psychological distress at 3 months. Reduced levels of psychological distress in BMI group at 6 months | Low |
Hides et al. (2018) | RCT (parallel group), Year not stated | Mobile app informed by motivational interviewing that creates a virtual experience to increase alcohol knowledge and reduce alcohol use in young app users Duration of intervention: not specified | Sample size: 197 Immediate access group (n = 96) 1-month delayed access control group (n = 101) | 16–25 years old Australian residents Consume alcohol at least monthly Own an iPhone | 16–25 years (22.3%m) | Assessment at baseline, 1,2,3, and 6 months | No significant differences between the immediate and delayed access groups in alcohol use and alcohol related harm | Low |
Hilferty et al. (2015) | Mixed-methods evaluation 2013 to 2014 | Primary intervention: focused psychological strategies provided by headspace Comparison groups for binge drinking and cannabis use: 12–17 year-olds (n = 1,686) via survey Intervention: 5 sessions average | headspace datasets (n = 45,000) Survey participants: headspace treatment (n = 1515) No treatment (n = 4774) | 12–25 years old receiving headspace services | 12–25 years (%m not stated) | Comparison of young people attending headspace and young people not attending headspace | Significant small positive improvement in reduced psychological distress for the headspace group compared with the other treatment and no treatment groups over time. Reduced binge drinking highest in other treatment group. No significant differences between groups in cannabis use | Moderate |
Knight et al. (2017) | Systematic review 2009–2014 | Interventions including education, mentoring, recreation, information provision and counselling targeting multiple risk factors | 13 studies | 12–24 years with multiple risk factors | Across studies: 12–24 years (0–94%m) | 7 electronic databases and grey literature | Most studies on single risk factors. Half of the studies were methodologically weak | High |
Maclean et al. (2012) | Systematic review 1980–2010 | Psychosocial therapeutic interventions for volatile substance use (VSU) | 19 studies | Published in English Substance use, health or welfare outcome data for therapeutic interventions addressing volatile substance use | Across studies: 10–32 years (%m not stated) | Electronic databases and grey literature | Clear conclusions for VSU psychological treatment are not supported | High |
Mission Australia (2011) | Before-after study with no control group 2005–2009 | Residential rehabilitation: Counselling, case management, vocational education and training, sport and recreation, support for family communication and aftercare Length of treatment: Residential treatment: up to 3 months Aftercare: up to 6 months | Sample size: 399 participants in program Aftercare cohort: n = 160 | 16–24 years Experiencing co-morbid conditions of drug addiction and mental illness | 16–24 years (72%m) | Assessment at baseline, 3 months and 6 months and post-treatment | Sustained reduction in chronic alcohol and/or cannabis use and increased abstinence Sustained improvement in psychological health Positive education, training, employment and accommodation outcomes | Moderate |
Murphy (2011) | Case study 2007–2011 | Koori youth residential AOD rehabilitation (Healing Service): Primary health counselling/mentoring, group work, aftercare, links to key adults in Koori community Average length of stay: 69 days | Sample size: 7 case studies, number of participants interviewed not specified | Koori residential program participant 15–20 years Problems relating to AOD use | 15–20 years (68%m) | 7 case studies based on oral story-telling and observations Interviews with young people, staff and stakeholders | Increased safety and pride in cultural background Improvements in communicating with adults, emotional regulation and relationships Appropriate aftercare essential | Low |
Norberg et al. (2013) | RCT (parallel group) Year not stated | Brief CBT and motivational interviewing Immediate treatment (IT) group and a 3-month delayed treatment control (DTC) group Length of treatment: 3 sessions over 3 weeks (1 session per week) | Sample size: 33 IT (n = 18) DTC (n = 11) | 14–30 years old  ≥ weekly cannabis use in month prior to assessment Diagnosis of cannabis dependence English speaking | 14–30 years (56.7%m) | Numerous clinical measures and scales for substance use and psychological distress | No significant improvements in the IT group compared with the DTC group for any of the outcome measures | High |
Simpson et al. (2010) | Before-after study with no control group 2007–2009 | Counselling clients of youth cannabis service received a median number of 3 treatment sessions over the course of a 2-year period | Sample size: 50 (counselling clients) | 16–25 years cannabis dependence counselling clients | 16–25 years (80%m) | Service outcome statistics dataset and the National Minimum Data Set for the years 2007–2009 (for comparison) | Significant decrease in frequency and amount of cannabis use Significant increase in life satisfaction | Low |
Tait et al. (2010) | Systematic review and meta-analysis 2009 | Internet-based attitudinal change and substance reduction interventions for young people with problematic substance use | 16 studies | RCT Published in English Study outcome included a measure of consumption of the target substance | Across studies: Participant age range and %m not stated for all studies | Search of 3 electronic databases and reference lists | Web-based interventions targeting alcohol use by young adults appear effective in reducing alcohol problems in current drinkers | Low |
Tait et al. (2016) | RCT (parallel group) 1999–2002 | RCT conducted across 4 public hospital emergency departments (ED) in Perth. Comparison of treatment costs following an AOD-related presentation to ED. Usual care compared with brief counselling, advice and referral to link adolescents with external AOD services Length of treatment: 1 × 1 h session + referral and follow-up phone call | Sample size: 127 Control (n = 67) Intervention (n = 60) | 12–19 years AOD-related presentation to ED | 12–19 years (%m not stated) | Health data linkage used for 10 years following the brief intervention | Those who received the intervention had lower costs of ED mental health AOD presentations Injecting drug use was a significant baseline predictor of subsequent costs | Low |
Wachtel et al. (2010) | Literature review 1998–2008 | Brief clinical interventions including motivational interviewing and harm minimisation aimed at reducing alcohol misuse and binge drinking | 14 RCTs | RCT Published in English Brief intervention studies specific to alcohol reduction Participant age: 12– 25 years | Across studies: Participant age range and %m not stated for all studies | 6 online databases and reference lists | No single intervention recommended due to confounding evidence | Moderate |