An adolescent patient qualifies for outpatient treatment if he or she meets DSM criteria for Substance Use Disorder and the following dimensions:

A.  Patient is not intoxicated and presents no risk of withdrawal.

B.  The patient has no biomedical conditions that would interfere with outpatient treatment.

C.  The patient’s problem behaviors, moods, feelings, and attitudes are related to addiction rather than to a mental disorder, or the patient is being treated by an appropriate mental health professional.  Patient’s mental status is stable. Patient is not at risk for harming self or others.

D.  Patient is willing to cooperate and attend all scheduled outpatient activities.  Patient is responsive to parents,  school authorities,  and the staff.

E.  The patient is willing to consider maintaining abstinence and recovery goals.

F.  A sufficiently supportive recovery environment exists,  which makes outpatient treatment feasible.
1.  Parents or significant others are supportive of treatment and the program is accessible.
2.  The patient currently does not have a supportive recovery environment but he or she is willing to obtain such support.
3.  The family or significant others are supportive but require professional intervention to improve chances of success.

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Robert R. Perkinson,  PHD
Helping Your Clients Find the Road to Recovery

Alcoholism - Treatment.  I.  Title.
RC565.P375 - 2004
616.86’10651- dc22