The aim of this study is to present the development of the Role-Playing Game (RPG) Challenges by a qualitative study that adopted the following strategies: focus groups, direct observation and questionnaires. Adolescents of both sexes participated; four hospitalized for chemical dependency and four high school students. The instruments were: RPG Challenges, structured interviews and visual-analogies scales. After the development phase the game was used in a pilot study, was adjusted, and was evaluated by judges and the final version was tested. The results indicate that the RPG Challenges is useful in the treatment and prevention of drug dependence in adolescence through the training of skills dealing with problem situations and changing the belief that drug use is a strategy for conflict resolution.
therapeutic game; coping skills; adolescence; drugs
