CHILDHOOD SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION AS A FACTOR IN THE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE MISUSING ADOLESCENTS

The impact of childhood sexual abuse on the treatment for substance mi suse of 194 adolescents was examined. At treatment onset, adolescents reporting sexual abuse, when compared to those reporting no sexual abu se, demonstrated more serious involvement with substances, a greater i ncidence of physical abuse and parental substance misuse, and, among m ales, increased suicidal ideation and school failure. The two groups d id not differ on rate of treatment completion nor on change scores obt ained from an assessment battery administered at the beginning and end of treatment. There were no differences between the two groups on ado lescent ratings of treatment effectiveness, Therapists, however, rated adolescents who reported sexual abuse as showing greater improvement in two areas. Implications for treatment are discussed.