Disorders - Substance Use Disorders
Guo, X., Slesnick,
N.
OBJECTIVES: The current study sought to test hard drug use outcomes for youth receiving a strengths-based outreach and advocacy
intervention that linked youth to either a shelter or a drop-in center.\rMETHODS: Homeless youth (14-24 years old) were engaged by research
assistants (RAs) at soup kitchens, parks, libraries, and other locations that homeless youth were known to frequent. Youth were randomly assigned to
receive six months of advocacy that focused on linking youth to a drop-in center (n = 40) or to a crisis shelter (n = 39). Follow-up assessments were
conducted at 3, 6, and 9 months post-baseline. Hard drug use over time was the main outcome. Intervention condition and service connection were used
as predictors for the baseline level and the slope of change in hard drug use over time. Data analysis was conducted with Bernoulli Hierarchical
Generalized Linear Modeling in HLM7.\rRESULTS: The current study found that those who were in the drop-in linkage condition exhibited a greater
reduction in their odds of using hard drugs during the follow-up points than their counterparts in the shelter linkage condition. And finally, those
who utilized services more often during the follow-ups were those who exhibited less hard drug use at baseline and less reduction in their odds of
using hard drugs.\rCONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that drop-in centers, which are often characterized by low-demand programming and few behavioral
restrictions, are effective for addressing hard drug use among homeless youth.
Substance Use & Misuse, 52(7) : 905
-915
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement
Duncan, R., Washburn, I. J., Lewis, K. M., Bavarian, N., DuBois, D. L., Acock, A. C., Vuchinich, S., Flay, B. R.
Behavioral trajectories during middle childhood are predictive of consequential outcomes later in life (e.g., substance abuse, violence).
Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are designed to promote trajectories that reflect both growth in positive behaviors and inhibited
development of negative behaviors. The current study used growth mixture models to examine effects of the Positive Action (PA) program on behavioral
trajectories of social-emotional and character development (SECD) and misconduct using data from a cluster-randomized trial that involved 14 schools
and a sample of predominately low-income, urban youth followed from 3rd through 8th grade. For SECD, findings indicated that PA was similarly
effective at improving trajectories within latent classes characterized as \"high/declining\" and \"low/stable\". Favorable program effects were
likewise evident to a comparable degree for misconduct across observed latent classes that reflected \"low/rising\" and \"high/rising\" trajectories.
These findings suggest that PA and perhaps other school-based universal SEL programs have the potential to yield comparable benefits across subgroups
of youth with differing trajectories of positive and negative behaviors, making them promising strategies for achieving the intended goal of school-
wide improvements in student outcomes.
Prevention Science, 18(2) : 214-
224
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions
Carmona, J., Slesnick, N., Guo, X., Murnan, A., Brakenhoff, B.
Homeless youth have high rates of substance use and often lack connection to social services.
Outreach is critical for connecting youth to services, but factors influencing their outreach engagement are unknown. This study examined predictors
of meetings with outreach workers among 79 non-service connected, substance using homeless youth between 14 and 24 years of age. Results provide
direction to service providers in that older age, higher levels of depressive symptoms, fewer drug-related problems, and no use of hard drugs within
the prior 30 days predicted higher meeting attendance. Future research is needed testing strategies that overcome barriers to outreach
engagement.
Community Mental Health Journal, 53(1) : 62-
71
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention), Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement
Velasco, V., Griffin, K.
W., Botvin, G. J.
Evidence-based preventive interventions for adolescent substance use, violence, and mental health issues are increasingly being
adapted and disseminated internationally. In the present paper, we report the results of an effectiveness study that was part of a comprehensive
initiative by a coalition of health promotion organizations in the Lombardy region of Italy to select, culturally adapt, implement, evaluate, and
sustain an evidence-based drug abuse prevention program developed in the USA. Findings are presented from a large-scale effectiveness study of the
Life Skills Training prevention program among over 3000 students attending 55 middle schools in Italy. The prevention program taught drug refusal
skills, antidrug norms, personal self-management skills, and general social skills. Relative to comparison group students, students who received the
prevention program were less likely to initiate smoking at the post-test and 2-year follow-up, and less likely to initiate weekly drunkenness at the
1-year follow-up. The program had direct positive effects on several cognitive, attitudinal, and skill variables believed to play a protective role
in adolescent substance use. The findings from this study show that a drug abuse prevention program originally designed for adolescents in the USA is
effective in a sample of Italian youth when a rigorous and systematic approach to cultural adaptation is followed that incorporates the input of
multiple stakeholders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
Prevention Science, 18(4) : 394-405
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Andersson, C., Ojehagen, A., Olsson, M. O., Bradvik, L., Hakansson, A.
Purpose:
Substance use disorders and problematic substance use are common problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Brief personalized feedback has been
suggested for treatment of alcohol and drug problems and poor mental health. This repeated measurement randomized controlled trial examines the
effect of an interactive voice response (IVR) system for assessing stress, depression, anxiety and substance use. Methods: The IVR system was used
twice weekly over 3 months after treatment initiation, with or without addition of a personalized feedback intervention on stress and mental health
symptoms. Both IVR assessment only (control group) and IVR assessment including feedback (intervention group) were provided as an add-on to
treatment-as-usual procedures (TAU) in outpatient treatment of substance use problems in adolescents and young adults (N = 73). Results: By using a
mixed models approach, differences in change scores were analyzed over the three-month assessment period. Compared to the control group, the
intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in the Arnetz and Hasson stress score (AHSS, p = 0.019), the total Symptoms
Checklist 8 score (SCL-8D, p = 0.037), the SCL-8D anxiety sub-score (p = 0.017), and on a summarized feedback score (p = 0.026), but not on the
depression subscale. There were no differences in global substance use scores between the intervention group (feedback on mental health symptoms) and
the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, IVR may be useful for follow-up and repeated interventions as an add-on to regular treatment, and
personalized feedback could potentially improve mental health in adolescents and young adults with problematic substance use. (PsycINFO Database
Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
International
journal of behavioral medicine, 24(5) : 789-797
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Personalised feedback, normative feedback, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., Weatherholt, T. N.
The present study investigates the effectiveness of a
family-based, online media literacy education (MLE) program for substance abuse prevention in children from rural areas. A total of 83 families were
randomly assigned to receive Media Detective Family (MDF) (n = 47) or a control computer program (n = 36) between pre- and posttest questionnaires.
Fifty-one percent (N=42) completed a three-month follow-up questionnaire. Children receiving MDF reported a significant reduction in their use of
substances over time compared to children in the control group (d = -.80). Parents receiving MDF reported that the program was convenient and
engaging. The current study showed that an online substance use prevention program using MLE and designed for families is an effective intervention
method for reducing children's substance use.
Journal of Community Psychology, 45(6) : 796-
809
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Scull, T. M., Kupersmidt, J. B., Weatherholt, T.
N.
The present study investigates the effectiveness of a
family-based, online media literacy education (MLE) program for substance abuse prevention in children from rural areas. A total of 83 families were
randomly assigned to receive Media Detective Family (MDF) (n = 47) or a control computer program (n = 36) between pre- and posttest questionnaires.
Fifty-one percent (N=42) completed a three-month follow-up questionnaire. Children receiving MDF reported a significant reduction in their use of
substances over time compared to children in the control group (d = -.80). Parents receiving MDF reported that the program was convenient and
engaging. The current study showed that an online substance use prevention program using MLE and designed for families is an effective intervention
method for reducing children's substance use.
Journal of Community Psychology, 45(6) : 796-
809
- Year: 2017
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Salam, R. A., Das, J. K., Lassi, Z. S., Bhutta,
Z. A.
Adolescent health care is challenging compared to that of
children and adults, due to their rapidly evolving physical, intellectual, and emotional development. This paper is the concluding paper for a series
of reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for improving adolescent health and well-being. In this paper, we summarize the evidence
evaluated in the previous papers and suggest areas where there is enough existing evidence to recommend implementation and areas where further
research is needed to reach consensus. Potentially effective interventions for adolescent health and well-being include interventions for adolescent
sexual and reproductive health, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition interventions for pregnant adolescents, interventions to improve vaccine
uptake among adolescents, and interventions for substance abuse. Majority of the evidence for improving immunization coverage, substance abuse,
mental health, and accidents and injury prevention comes from high-income countries. Future studies should specifically be targeted toward the low-
and middle-income countries with long term follow-up and standardized and validated measurement instruments to maximize comparability of results.
Assessment of effects by gender and socioeconomic status is also important as there may be differences in the effectiveness of certain interventions.
It is also important to recognize ideal delivery platforms that can augment the coverage of proven adolescent health-specific interventions and
provide an opportunity to reach hard-to-reach and disadvantaged population groups. Copyright © 2016 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
Journal of Adolescent
Health, 59(2 Supplement) : S88-S92
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions
(any)
Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Tomlinson, M., Durkin, A., Baird, K., DeCelles, J., Swendeman, D.
Many young, South African men
use alcohol and drugs and have multiple partners, but avoid health care settings-the primary site for delivery of HIV intervention activities. To
identify the feasibility of engaging men in HIV testing and reducing substance use with soccer and vocational training programs. In two Cape Town
neighborhoods, all unemployed men aged 18-25 years were recruited and randomized by neighborhood to: (1) an immediate intervention condition with
access to a soccer program, random rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for alcohol and drug use, and an opportunity to enter a vocational training program
(n = 72); or (2) a delayed control condition (n = 70). Young men were assessed at baseline and 6 months later by an independent team. Almost all
young men in the two neighborhoods participated (98 %); 85 % attended at least one practice (M = 42.3, SD = 34.4); 71 % typically attended practice.
Access to job training was provided to the 35 young men with the most on-time arrivals at practice, drug-free RDT, and no red cards for violence. The
percentage of young men agreeing to complete RDT at soccer increased significantly over time; RDTs with evidence of alcohol and drug use decreased
over time. At the pre-post assessments, the frequency of substance use decreased; and employment and income increased in the immediate condition
compared to the delayed condition. HIV testing rates, health care contacts, sexual behaviors, HIV knowledge, condom use and attitudes towards women
were similar over time. Alternative engagement strategies are critical pathways to prevent HIV among young men. This feasibility study shows that
soccer and job training offer such an alternative, and suggest that a more robust evaluation of this intervention strategy be pursued. (PsycINFO
Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
AIDS and Behavior, 20(9) : 1841-1850
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative
Interventions (CAM), Service Delivery & Improvement, Physical activity, exercise, Individual placement and support (IPS), vocational
interventions
Wippert, Pia-Maria, Flieser, Michael
Background: Doping presents a potential health risk for young athletes. Prevention
programs are intended to prevent doping by educating athletes about banned substances. However, such programs have their limitations in practice.
This led Germany to introduce the National Doping Prevention Plan (NDPP), in hopes of ameliorating the situation among young elite athletes. Two
studies examined 1) the degree to which the NDPP led to improved prevention efforts in elite sport schools, and 2) the extent to which newly
developed prevention activities of the national anti-doping agency (NADA) based on the NDPP have improved knowledge among young athletes within elite
sports schools. Methods: The first objective was investigated in a longitudinal study (Study I: t0 = baseline, t1 = follow-up 4 years after NDPP
introduction) with N = 22 teachers engaged in doping prevention in elite sports schools. The second objective was evaluated in a cross-sectional
comparison study (Study II) in N = 213 elite sports school students (54.5 % male, 45.5 % female, age M = 16.7 +/- 1.3 years (all students had
received the improved NDDP measure in school; one student group had received additionally NADA anti-doping activities and a control group did not).
Descriptive statistics were calculated, followed by McNemar tests, Wilcoxon tests and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results: Results indicate that
4 years after the introduction of the NDPP there have been limited structural changes with regard to the frequency, type, and scope of doping
prevention in elite sport schools. On the other hand, in study II, elite sport school students who received further NADA anti-doping activities
performed better on an anti-doping knowledge test than students who did not take part (F(1, 207) = 33.99, p < 0.001), although this difference was
small. Conclusion: The integration of doping-prevention in elite sport schools as part of the NDPP was only partially successful. The results of the
evaluation indicate that the introduction of the NDPP has contributed more to a change in the content of doping prevention activities than to a
structural transformation in anti-doping education in elite sport schools. Moreover, while students who did receive additional education in the form
of the NDPP\"booster sessions\" had significantly more knowledge about doping than students who did not receive such education, this difference was
only small and may not translate to actual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Vol 11 2016, ArtID
35, 11 :
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Psychoeducation, Other Psychological Interventions
Tucker, J.
S., D'Amico, E. J., Ewing, B. A., Miles, J. N. V., Pedersen, E. R.
Purpose: Homeless young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 exhibit high rates of alcohol use, as well as
drug use and sexual risk behaviors. Yet few risk reduction programs exist for this at-risk population, particularly ones that are both effective and
can be easily incorporated into settings serving this population (e.g., drop-in centers). This study addresses an important gap in prevention
services for homeless emerging adults by conducting a pilot cluster cross-over randomized controlled trial of AWARE, a group-MI (Motivational
Interviewing) brief risk reduction intervention focusing on reducing both substance use and sexual risk behavior. Methods: AWARE consists of four 45
-min sessions. Rolling admission is used so that youth can join the program at any time, regardless of session. The evaluation took place in two
drop-in centers for homeless young adults in the Los Angeles area. Homeless young adults ages 18-25 (mean age = 21.8) received the AWARE program (n =
100) or usual care (n = 100). The sample was 73% male, 79% heterosexual, and 31%non-Hispanic white. Surveys were completed at baseline and 3 months
after program completion. The 3-months follow-up rate for the sample was 91%. Results: Satisfaction with the program was high and nearly half (48%)
of AWARE participants completed all four sessions. At follow-up, AWARE participants reported a lower frequency of alcohol use over the past 3 months
(p = 0.01), were less likely to be classified as a frequent heavy drinker (compared to a non-drinker) in the past 30 days (p = 0.05), and showed a
marginally significant positive difference in their confidence that they could reduce/quit their drinking (p = 0.09), compared to control
participants. In addition, AWARE participants showed significant increases in both their readiness (p = 0.02) and confidence (p = 0.02) to change
their drug use, compared to control participants. In terms of sex-related outcomes, AWARE participants reported greater condom use self-efficacy than
the control group at follow-up (p = 0.05), but intervention effects were not found for number of partners or condomuse. Conclusion: Results from this
pilot evaluation are promising, suggesting that a brief group-MI intervention can be effective in helping homeless young adults make positive changes
in their alcohol use, as well as strengthen their motivation to reduce their drug use and their condom use self-efficacy.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 40 : 311A
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any), Alcohol
Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy
Veronneau,
M.-H., Dishion, T. J., Connell, A.M., Kavanagh, K.
Objective: Substance use in adulthood compromises work, relationships, and health. Prevention strategies in early adolescence are
designed to reduce substance use and progressions to problematic use by adulthood. This report examines the long-term effects of offering Family
Check-up (FCU) at multiple time points in secondary education on the progression of substance use from age 11 to 23 years. Method: Participants (N =
998; 472 females) were randomly assigned individuals to intervention or control in Grade 6 and offered a multilevel intervention that included a
classroom-based intervention (universal), the FCU (selected), and tailored family management treatment (indicated). Among intervention families, 23%
engaged in the selected and indicated levels during middle school. Results: Intention to treat analyses revealed that randomization to the FCU was
associated with reduced growth in marijuana use (p < .05), but not alcohol and tobacco use. We also examined whether engagement in the voluntary FCU
services moderated the effect of the intervention on substance use progressions using complier average causal effect (CACE) modeling, and found that
engagement in the FCU services predicted reductions in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use by age 23. In comparing engagers with nonengagers: 70%
versus 95% showed signs of alcohol abuse or dependence, 28% versus 61% showed signs of tobacco dependence, and 59% versus 84% showed signs of
marijuana abuse or dependence. Conclusion: Family interventions that are embedded within public school systems can reach high-risk students and
families and prevent progressions from exploration to problematic substance use through early adulthood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all
rights reserved) Impact Statement What is the public health significance of this article?-This study suggests that family centered interventions
designed to be embedded within the public school service system can have long-term preventive effects on reducing risk for marijuana use especially,
but also tobacco and alcohol. By actively and respectfully encouraging at-risk families to participate, those most likely to benefit will engage and
have motivation to change; thus, optimizing the use of resources while maintaining the significant impact of the intervention. (PsycINFO Database
Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(6) : 526-
543
- Year: 2016
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any)
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions
(any), Other Psychological Interventions