Strength-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Reducing Concurrent Drug Misuse and Anxiety and Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: This study examines the impact of Strength-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (SBCBT) on high-risk youth with substance misuse, anxiety, and depression, who often show limited responses to traditional interventions. Method: Ninety-one Chinese youth in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to either an SBCBT intervention group or a treatment-as-usual control group. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, with t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA employed to assess intervention effectiveness. Results: Compared with the control group, the SBCBT group showed positive changes in resilience (F = 7.24, p = .009), beliefs and attitudes towards drug misuse (F = 4.82, p = .031), and drug-avoiding self-efficacy (F = 10.83, p = .001), alongside reduced depressive (F = 14.16, p < .001) and anxiety symptoms (F = 7.61, p = .007) post-intervention. Discussion: SBCBT appears to promote significant changes in both mental health and drug-related outcomes among young people at high risk.