A national movement of parent self-help groups has recently emerged to
combat drug abuse in children and adolescents. This innovative modality
addresses a major mental health problem in an area where manpower shortages
are anticipated. On the basis of self-report data from 135 parent group
members, the drug and behavior problems of their children were evaluated.
Improvement was reported in the community at large but more frequently in
the children of members. The parent groups differed notably in structure
and activities; nonetheless, the underlying psychology of membership, i.e.,
the shared attitudes and social cohesiveness of the members, facilitated
the achieving of common goals.Abstract Teaser