Davidson, Kristal S

Lee, Jumanne

McLaren, Susan

Smith, Colleen M

English

ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University

Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University GHPC Materials Georgia Health Policy Center 5-23-2019 An evaluation of Georgia’s recovery support clubhouses and their impact on substance use and mental health outcomes among recovering youth ages 13-17 Colleen M. Smith Jumanne Lee Susan McLaren Kristal S. Davidson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/ghpc_materials Recommended Citation Smith, Colleen M.; Lee, Jumanne; McLaren, Susan; and Davidson, Kristal S., "An evaluation of Georgia’s recovery support clubhouses and their impact on substance use and mental health outcomes among recovering youth ages 13-17" (2019). GHPC Materials. 65. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/ghpc_materials/65 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Georgia Health Policy Center at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in GHPC Materials by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact scholarworks@gsu.edu. ANDREW  YOUNG SCHOOL O F  P O L I C Y  S T U D I E STHE CLUBHOUSE APPROACHThe Recovery Support Clubhouse model in Georgia was developed in response to the challenge to retain youth in substance use treatment. Georgia’s Recovery Support Clubhouses developed an approach that:•	 Provides an alternative to traditional treatment•	 Prioritizes youth and family engagement •	 Takes a person-centered approach to recoveryAn evaluation of Georgia’s recovery support clubhouses and their impact on substance use and mental health outcomes among recovering youth ages 13-17Colleen M. Smith, MSW1; Jumanne Lee, MPH, CHES1; Susan McLaren, MPH, FACHE1; Kristal S. Davidson, MA, APC, NCC21Georgia Health Policy Center, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University; 2Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Office of Addictive DiseasesFor more information, please contact the Georgia Health Policy Center at 404.413.0314 or visit us online at www.ghpc.gsu.eduCLUBHOUSE YOUTH MEMBERSGeorgia’s nine Recovery Support Clubhouses serve adolescents ages 13-17 recovering from substance use issues.METHODSThe Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool was used to determine need and assess change over time among 219 clubhouse members. Need was determined using the first assessment conducted upon enrollment in the program. Change was measured comparing results from the most recent CANS re-assessment to the first assessment conducted. Areas with the highest need at first assessment were explored with two programmatic variables: 1) length of enrollment and 2) frequency of attendance.RESULTSDiverse NeedsThe 219 clubhouse members represented in this sample displayed a variety of needs. More than 45% of youth demonstrated high need in the following five areas:•	 Lack of healthy coping skills (50.9%)•	 Substance use severity (49.1%)•	 Substance use peer influence (45.7%)•	 Legal involvement with juvenile justice (48.2%)•	 Substance use stage of recovery (47.9%)Additionally, clubhouse members demonstrated levels of anxiety and depression at enrollment.•	 Depression (37%)•	 Anxiety (32%)Improved OutcomesYouth with high needs demonstrated improvement over time in each of the five need areas identified. Additionally, a substantial proportion of youth who demonstrated levels of anxiety and depression at first assessment experienced improvement at re-assessment.DISCUSSIONThe Recovery Support Clubhouse program is supporting youth whose needs span substance use, juvenile justice, and mental health. Length of enrollment in the program and frequency of attendance appear to play a role in improvement in youth outcomes. More qualitative data collection would be required to understand what additional factors are supporting improvement, in what context, and for whom. RESEARCH QUESTIONS1. Where are the needs concentrated among youth served?2. Among which outcomes are youth experiencing the most change?3. Are programmatic factors associated with youth outcomes?Correlations were run between the five high needs identified and length of enrollment and frequency of attendance. Frequency of attendance influences improved coping skills.•	 Statistically significant at the .05 level (.033)•	 Negative directionality: as frequency of attendance increases, need level decreases (e.g. youth coping skills improve)Length of enrollment influences substance use peer influence.•	 Statistically significant at the .01 level (.004)•	 Negative directionality: as length of clubhouse enrollment increases, need level decreases (e.g. substance use peer influence improves)80% of clubhouse members are maleUrinary Drug Screen Findings in Order of PrevalenceSubstances Not Found in Urinary Drug Screens1. THC2. Amphetamine3. Cocaine4. Benzodiazepines5. Other Opiates6. Ethyl/Alcohol7. Oxycodone8. MDMA1. Heroin2. Phenobarbital/Barbiturates3. Methadone4. FentanylRaceEthnicityPercent of youth whose outcome improved, did not change, and worsened over timePercent of youth whose mental health outcome improved, did not change, and worsened over time%

An evaluation of Georgia’s recovery support clubhouses and their impact on 
substance use and mental health outcomes among recovering youth ages 13-17

Georgia State University

https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&amp;context=ghpc_materials

An evaluation of Georgia’s recovery support clubhouses and their impact on substance use and mental health outcomes among recovering youth ages 13-17

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