When approaching adolescents about sensitive issues, such as drug use and sex, an effective interviewing approach is to:

When approaching adolescents about sensitive issues, such as drug use and sex, an effective interviewing approach is to:

• A. Introduce the topics early in the history
• B. Let the adolescent know the parents are concerned
• C. Avoid promising confidentiality
• D. Begin by asking about their friends' activities

Answer: (D)

When talking with adolescents about sensitive issues, start by asking about their friends and social activities. This approach lowers guard and builds trust because teens tend to discuss behavior more openly when the conversation begins in a familiar, non-threatening context. By inquiring about what their friends do, you create a natural bridge to personal topics and can gauge peer influence and risk patterns without making the teen feel judged or cornered. Once rapport is established, you can smoothly transition to questions about their own behaviors, including drug use or sexual activity, while clearly outlining confidentiality and any safety limits. Starting with questions about friends also helps the clinician tailor the discussion to the adolescent’s social environment, which is often a key factor in risk.

When talking with adolescents about sensitive issues, start by asking about their friends and social activities. This approach lowers guard and builds trust because teens tend to discuss behavior more openly when the conversation begins in a familiar, non-threatening context. By inquiring about what their friends do, you create a natural bridge to personal topics and can gauge peer influence and risk patterns without making the teen feel judged or cornered. Once rapport is established, you can smoothly transition to questions about their own behaviors, including drug use or sexual activity, while clearly outlining confidentiality and any safety limits. Starting with questions about friends also helps the clinician tailor the discussion to the adolescent’s social environment, which is often a key factor in risk.