First Contact : A Brief Treatment for Young Substance Users

Most young people tend to drop out early from extended outpatient treatment for substance use. First Contact is a brief treatment program designed for counsellors working with adolescents and young adults who have substance use problems. Designed to strengthen clients' motivation and commitment to change, this outpatient program combines elements of cognitive-behavioural and motivational interviewing approaches. The program can be a "first-step" for youth with substance use problems, fostering motivation for change before addressing more specialized or long-term needs. The program includes exercises on topics such as: costs and benefits of changing setting goals and monitoring results identifying high-risk situations for acohol or drug use learning about the change process and how to sustain change over time coping with relapse