An Innovative Psychological Assessment Method for Young Drug-Addicts. Connections with the Clinical Intervention. An Illustrative Case-Study

The development of new assessment and treatment protocols for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) has been recently fostered by epidemiological data, which indicates that drug-related problems mainly peak in young age; moreover, there have been important changes in the phenomenon of drug addiction, which often involves early onset, poly-drug use and the diffusion of new psychoactive drugs. An enhanced comprehension of the current manifestations of SUDs is the essential step to take, in order to inform and improve treatment programs targeting this clinical population. As a consequence, there is the strong need for assessment protocols that are age-appropriate and capable of addressing such a complex and multi-determined clinical condition. Reporting Adrian’s case, a young inpatient undergoing a residential community program, the present study illustrates the most salient features of SUD in young age. Secondly, the paper offers the opportunity to describe an innovative psychological assessment protocol (multi-focus, multi-informant, multi-method and longitudinal) and its connections with the clinical treatment level, over one-year long treatment. Thirdly, it allows some important considerations about which psychological domains and characteristics should be primarily considered by treatment programs targeting substance dependence for individuals in their teens or twenties.