Efficacy of Wilderness Therapy for Young Adults: A First Look

Young Adults in Residential and Outdoor Behavioral Health Programs: Prelimniary Outcomes from the Practice Research Network of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs

“…The finding that young adults in RTC programs have high rates of substance abuse problems suggests that such programs are uniquely positioned to address substance abuse issues. This finding is consistent with other studies of young adults' presenting problems (Bettmann et al, 2016;Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016) which likewise found high rates of substance abuse problems in their samples of young adults. Few studies have explored substance abuse outcomes in young adult OBH and RTC programs; this is an area that needs to be further researched for this population.…”

“…It is important to bear in mind that participants' scores remain in the normal range of functioning at six months postdischarge for both the OBH and RTC programs. Other than the slight difference found between the OBH and RTC samples post-discharge, the trends in this study are consistent with those found in other OBH young adult samples (Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017) as well as in samples of OBH and RTC adolescents (Behrens, 2011;Tucker et al, 2011;Zelov et al, 2013).…”

“…Given that its results are generally consistent with the studies published using data from individual OBH programs (Bettmann et al, 2016;Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017;Russell et al, 2016), it lends increased support to the notion that outcomes for young adults in OBH and RTC programs tend to be favorable and tend to persist. Certainly, this research can be further strengthened with more robust experimental designs, such as those provided by the use of comparison groups.…”

“…Preliminary research with young adults in RTC and OBH programs suggests that the findings are similar to those of adolescents in RTC and OBH programs (Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017;Russell et al, 2016;Treadway, 2017).…”

“…Recently, young adult RTC and OBH have received research attention (Bettmann et al, 2016;Hoag, Massey, Roberts, & Logan, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts, Stroud, Hoag, & Massey, 2017;Russell, Gillis, & Heppner, 2016;Treadway, 2017). Preliminary research with young adults in RTC and OBH programs suggests that the findings are similar to those of adolescents in RTC and OBH programs (Hoag et al, 2013;Roberts et al, 2016;Roberts et al, 2017;Russell et al, 2016;Treadway, 2017).…”