Book excerpt: Though a number of books covering adolescent substance abuse are available, there are very few resources that explore the topic in the context of Family Systems Therapy (FST). Youth and Their Families offers an expanded view of the therapeutic process with a specific focus on the relationshipbetween therapists, adolescents, families, communities, and substance use. By applying an FST lens, the clinician learns to view their client as an entire family system being affected by adolescent substance abuse. Furthermore, FST can be used at every stage of the substance abuse interventioncontinuum (from prevention to intervention) to provide increased functioning and strength in the family system. This book incorporates easily applicable clinical skill acquisition with the use of lively cases to give the reader requisite skills to be an effective family systems therapist.