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Integrating ARMS

At ARMS, our multidisciplinary approach to recovery means that we help our patients gain greater control over all aspects of their life, not just their substance-related problems. We understand that helping young people improve their overall health and wellbeing will increase the likelihood of a successful recovery. And we consider their school to be an important ally in this process.

Working with Schools

During our patients’ initial assessment, we draw on their school records to learn their childhood history and current symptoms and get a full picture of their condition. When appropriate, we also give our patients neurocognitive and special education evaluations to identify any previously un-diagnosed disorders that may have contributed to or resulted from their substance use.

We then refer our patients to appropriate specialists, share these findings with our patients’ schools, and work with school administrators, teachers and counselors to create a treatment plan that will address our patients’ overall needs. Treating these cognitive and psychological disorders can be an important part of removing the impetus students had to begin using substances in the first place, and improve their ability to function without substances.

Treating cognitive and psychological disorders can be an important part of removing the impetus students had to begin using substances in the first place.

A Valuable Community Resource

We help school administrators prepare programs to educate their students, offer recommendations on individual cases, and work with schools and parents to stage interventions, when appropriate. We also remain involved throughout our patients’ recovery process, which includes providing information on relapse warning signs and helping with relapse prevention and relapse intervention planning.

We can provide schools with information about the cost of and training required for specific school-based programs and help schools access available programs in Massachusetts. In order for a treatment program to be effective, it should include long-term interventions, monitor ongoing drug use and offer formal measures of treatment outcomes. Successful program types include:

  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): Two to four sessions aimed at increasing youth’s readiness for treatment by exploring impact of use
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (C-BT): Behavior is analyzed to understand and avoid triggers and new behavioral skills are taught
  • Adolescent-Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA): Employed by ARMS, this short-term approach teaches youth and parents tools for increased effectiveness
  • Family Approaches, including Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) and Family Support Network (FSN): Focus on family support of recovery
  • Contingency Management: Incentives given for achieving agreed upon goals

ARMs may also help older patients create an educational plan for their post-high school life, such as taking classes at a community college or entering a vocational program.