Introduction: Drug addiction affects not only young people, but also all those who live with
them. The use of illegal drugs can be a temporary solution for young people to cope with
their potential problems. The role of occupational therapy in the treatment process of drug
addiction is becoming increasingly important. Occupational therapists use various strategies
in the treatment of drug addiction in adolescents. Purpose: To gather information on the
areas of human functioning addressed by occupational therapists in the treatment of
adolescent drug dependence through a literature review. Methods: A review of the scientific
and professional literature on occupational therapy and the treatment of substance
dependence in adolescents was conducted. The literature search took place between May
and August 2023 in the databases CINAHL, OTSeeker and PubMed, with the inclusion
criteria Adolescents dependent on illicit drugs, occupational therapy, quantitative studies
qualitative studies, systematic literature reviews, pilot studies. Results: Eight sources were
included in the review. Six themes were formed through content analysis and synthesis of
the sources. Discussion and Conclusion: Occupational therapy strategies that are
effectively used by occupational therapists in treating various areas of human functioning
were highlighted. Strategies include multidimensional family therapy, motivational
interviewing, and occupation-based interventions. Specialized knowledge of cognitive
therapy is used to engage youth in meaningful occupations and activities. Occupational
therapists play a crucial role in the team dealing with adolescents addicted to illegal drugs
by setting achievable goals together and planning daily routines without drug use.
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