Coping responses and relapse among adolescent substance abusers.

The present study investigates self-generated coping strategies and efficacy ratings in high risk for relapse situations of 50 adolescents treated for drug and alcohol abuse. Coping responses and self-efficacy assessments were elicited for self-generated high risk for relapse situations in which all teens successfully abstained and for responses generally used in such situations. Abstainers and relapsers were predicted to generate similar responses for successful abstinence situations, while relapsers were expected to generate fewer coping strategies and lower self-efficacy for high risk relapse situations in general. Teens with the poorest drug use outcome reported use of significantly fewer problem solving coping strategies and less self-efficacy in general high risk relapse situations. Results are discussed in relation to the cognitive behavioral theory of relapse and to previous findings on the process of relapse in teen substance abusers.