Published June 12, 2023

The Teen Intervene educational program is designed for youth ages 12 – 19 “who display the early stages of substance use problems.” The goal of Teen Intervene is to help teens identify their reasons for using substances, weigh the pros and cons of their use, learn skills to promote healthier behavior and take responsibility for their own changes in behavior.

This curriculum, available from Hazelden Publishing, consists of a 176-page paperback manual, and digital files, such as student exercises and guardian consent forms (available in Spanish), on a USB drive. The cost is $699.00. Curriculum and training together cost $1195.00 per participant.

Authored by Ken C. Winters, PH. D., this fourth edition, published in 2023, includes a research-informed Teen Nicotine Module, consisting of 52 pages of scripted material for a professional person to employ in interacting with a teen one-on-one. Recognizing the surge in youth vaping during recent years, the Teen Nicotine Module specifically addresses vaping.

The Teen Nicotine Module includes:

• Teen Session 1 – Part 1, 40 – 45 minutes
• Teen Session 1 – Part 2, 40 – 45 minutes
• Teen Session 2 – 50 – 85 minutes
• Family Session 3, 30 – 80 minutes (guardian materials available in Spanish)

The manual indicates that sessions should be held seven to ten days apart. Part 1 and Part 2 of Teen Session 1 would be held on the same day ideally, but can be held on different days if necessary.

The first edition of Teen Intervene was published in 2003. In 2019, the Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse published a Long-Term Outcome Study that can be downloaded and reviewed here. Access the page where you can download the study.

According to the study abstract: “Overall findings from this study support the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention, without parent involvement, for adolescents experiencing mild to moderate substance abuse problems. Findings also highlight the importance of early intervention and the tailoring of interventions to meet the unique needs of adolescents.”

Hazelden also invites us to “Download a sample of our Teen Nicotine facilitator guide to assess our tested, time-efficient, evidence-based model that makes teens their own agents of change.” Access the page where you can download the sample.

The free sample (20 pages) of the Teen Intervene Facilitator Guide includes:

• The Stage of Change Model
• Program Scope and Sequence
• Session Descriptions and Preparation
• Screening Tool Administration and Scoring Rubric
• Teen Session 2, Exercise 1

The sample is “illegal to duplicate, sell, or distribute,” and does not include many components necessary to implement the program. The purchased manual is also covered by copyright law and is not to be copied.