Evaluation of the Adolescent Portable Therapy (APT) Program [New York City], 2001-2004

This study contains data collected for an evaluation of the Adolescent Portable Therapy (APT) Program, which provided family-based drug treatment services to adolescents involved with the New York City juvenile justice system on charges of Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) or delinquency. The program aimed to improve five core areas of the young peoples' lives: substance use, mental health, schooling, family functioning, and recidivism. Recruitment for the study occurred at juvenile detention facilities in New York City. Intake staff conducted screening interviews with the detainees. Those who reported using substances at least 30 times in the previous 30 days, or who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM IV) criteria for substance abuse or dependence were eligible for selection. After the respondents and their families consented to participate, the respondents were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group went on to receive services from APT, while control group subjects received no APT services but had access to all other standard facilities and community based services. The evaluation participants were interviewed at four time points: at intake into the study in the juvenile detention facilities (baseline), three months after release from detention (T1), nine months after release from detention (T2), and 15 months after release from detention (T3). Whenever subjects were interviewed outside of a detention facility for T1, T2, and T3, study staff attempted to collect urine samples which were tested for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, phencyclidine (PCP), and opiates. Topics covered by the interviews included substance use and treatment, physical health, risk behaviors and disease prevention, mental and emotional health, living situation and environment, crime and legal issues, school, work, income, and demographic characteristics.