Icelandic Prevention Model for Rural Youth: A Feasibility Study in Central Appalachia

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110028
Author(s):  
Alfgeir L. Kristjansson ◽  
Stephen M. Davis ◽  
Jessica Coffman ◽  
Rosalina Mills
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Skill Training ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Central Appalachia

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing the Icelandic model for Primary Substance Use Prevention (IPM) in rural Central Appalachia. Guided by the IPM’s theoretical framework, 26 stakeholders from a single county in West Virginia were purposefully recruited during the spring of 2019 and divided into four focus groups. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed into themes based on IPM premises. Focus group material produced seven themes: Drug use overall, Drug treatment and other service needs, Poverty, Parenting/Caregiver practices, Transportation, Downtime/Leisure time activities, and Opportunities for solutions. General support was found for the potential of the IPM in the region. Preferably, the implementation of the model should coincide with attention to the adult population as drug use was reported to be plaguing the whole community. Treatment options were few and mostly far away. General poverty and lack of public transportation further stifled progress and potential for change. Organized leisure time activities and programs for youth were scarce and mostly seasonal. Suggested solutions for the adult community included workforce and skill training, coupled with increased opportunities for organized leisure activities for youth, and access to healthy role models via schools and faith-based organizations. We conclude that implementation of the IPM would be feasible to prevent substance use initiation and progression among youth in the rural Central Appalachia. We present several specific recommendations for policy and practice that address factors unique to this environment to initiate the IPM implementation development and suggest initial model application strategies.

scholarly journals Strong and Deadly Futures: Co-Development of a Web-Based Wellbeing and Substance Use Prevention Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non-Aboriginal Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2176
Author(s):  
Mieke Snijder ◽  
Lexine Stapinski ◽  
James Ward ◽  
Briana Lees ◽  
Cath Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Aboriginal Youth ◽  
Aboriginal Students ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Randomised Controlled

School-based programs can effectively prevent substance use; however, systematic reviews and consultation with stakeholders identified a need for effective, culturally inclusive programs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) youth. This paper describes the development of Strong & Deadly Futures, a six-lesson, curriculum-aligned wellbeing and substance use prevention program that was designed for, and with, the Aboriginal youth. Formative reviews and consultation recommended that the program (i) combine effective components of mainstream prevention with cultural elements, highlighting Aboriginal cultural strengths; (ii) avoid stigma and celebrates the cultural diversity by catering to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students; and (iii) use digital technology to enhance engagement, implementation and scalability. Guided by an Appreciative Inquiry approach, the program was developed in partnership with an Indigenous Creative Design Agency, and four schools in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Aboriginal (n = 41) and non-Aboriginal students (n = 36) described their role models, positive aspects of their community and reasons to avoid substance use; these formed the basis of an illustrated story which conveyed the key learning outcomes. Feedback from teachers, students and content experts supported the acceptability of the program, which will be evaluated in a subsequent randomised controlled trial.

LIETUVOS MOKSLEIVIŲ PSICHOTROPINIŲ MEDŽIAGŲ (NARKOTIKŲ) VARTOJIMO, PASEKMIŲ IR PRIEŽASTINIŲ RYŠIŲ TYRIMAS

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Saulius Čaplinskas
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Parental Attachment ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Free Time ◽  
Substance Use Prevention

Objective. To assess prevalence and social dimensions (family, school and peers) of substance use among Lithuanian adolescents and to provide effective recommendations of substance use prevention. Methods. A survey using a standard questionnaire was administered in three biggest cities of Lithuania (Vilnius, Klaipeda and Kaunas) twice: in 2006 and 2008. The target population was students of the age group 15-16 years old. Totally 14,155 students were enrolled. Results. 46 percent of respondents had no experience of any substance use. The most consumed drug was cannabis (hashish and marihuana) – 24 percent, followed by sleeping pills - 20 percent. Age of the substance use debut was directly related to further substance, especially cannabis (hashish or marihuana), use (r=0.891, p<0.001). Substance use had especially negative impact on the learning progress and perspectives of further studies and was related to the attitudes towards learning/school: the less interest in studies, the more extensive substance use (r=-0.151, p≤0.001). Parceived parental support and free time spent with parents were significantly related to the children attitudes towards substance use. Children without parental attachment were more prone to substance use and more submissive to the peer pressure. Cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use were concurrent: students, who smoked cigarettes more often (r=0.425, p<0.001), consumed beer (r=0.323, p<0.001) more often, consumed low percentage drinks (r=0.255, p<0.001) and strong alcohol more often (r=0.313, p<0.001), were also more intensely immersed drug users. Conclusions. Adolescents engaged in the free-time activities with their parents were less prone to smoke cigarettes or marihuana and consume alcohol. Having friends who use drugs was one of the great potential risk factors for personal drug use. Strengthening of relationships among parents, school, community and adolescents is an important measure in helping adolescents to abstain from substance use.

scholarly journals Impulsivity and family conflict as predictors of illegal psychoactive substance use in adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. e1334
Author(s):  
Nicole Guadalupe Vallejo Alviter ◽  
Jorge Luis Arellanez Hernández ◽  
Catalina Francisca González Forteza ◽  
Fernando Wagner Echeagaray
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Family Conflict ◽  
Psychoactive Substance ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
School Students ◽  
Psychoactive Substance Use

This research studies impulsiveness and family conflict as predictors of illegal psychoactive substance use. The objective of this research was to analyze the differences in impulsiveness and family conflict between high school student users and non-users of illegal psychoactive substances. A quantitative methodology through a cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. A questionnaire composed by the Plutchik scale of impulsiveness, some items of the Climent, Aragón and Plutchik Scale of Impulsivity and indicators to explore consumption of psychoactive substances. The sample was composed by 344 high school students of the municipality of Emiliano Zapata in Veracruz, México. The results show that 9.0% have consumed illegal drugs. A correlation was found between family conflict, impulsivity and use of psychoactive substances. We found that impulsivity and risk taking are predictors of illegal drug use. The results show that impulsivity is a factor related to drug use and it is necessary to design interventions that favor management of emotions and decision making in adolescents, as well as the participation of the family in substance use prevention programs. 

scholarly journals Non-medical prescription drug and illicit street drug use among young Swiss men and associated mental health issues

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Baggio ◽  
Joseph Studer ◽  
Meichun Mohler-Kuo ◽  
Jean-Bernard Daeppen ◽  
Gerhard Gmel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Street Drugs ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Sleeping Pills ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Abstract Non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) is increasing among the general population, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Although prescription drugs are considered safer than illicit street drugs, NMUPD can lead to detrimental consequences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between drug use (NMUPD on the one side, illicit street drugs on the other side) with mental health issues and then compare these associations. A representative sample of 5719 young Swiss men aged around 20 years filled in a questionnaire as part of the ongoing baseline Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). Drug use (16 illicit street drugs and 5 NMUPDs, including sleeping pills, sedatives, pain killers, antidepressants, stimulants) and mental health issues (depression, SF12) were assessed. Simple and multiple linear regressions were employed. In simple regressions, all illicit and prescription drugs were associated with poorer mental health. In multiple regressions, most of the NMUPDs, except for stimulants, were significantly associated with poorer mental health and with depression. On the contrary, the only associations that remained significant between illicit street drugs and mental health involved cannabis. NMUPD is of growing concern not only because of its increasing occurrence, but also because of its association with depression and mental health problems, which is stronger than the association observed between these problems and illicit street drug use, excepted for cannabis. Therefore, NMUPD must be considered in screening for substance use prevention purposes.

scholarly journals Preadolescent Drug Use Resistance Skill Profiles, Substance Use, and Substance Use Prevention

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suellen Hopfer ◽  
Michael L. Hecht ◽  
Stephanie T. Lanza ◽  
Xianming Tan ◽  
Shu Xu
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Substance Use Prevention

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the universal substance use prevention program on alcohol consumption among adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dobrowolska-Kulanová ◽  
M Štefaňáková ◽  
O Orosová
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Future Teachers ◽  
Normative Beliefs ◽  
Risky Behaviour

Abstract Background Universal substance use prevention program (PUNAV) is a 24-hour course primarily aimed at developing the competencies of future teachers and prevention trainers. One of the key strategies in the PUNAV is correcting the misperceptions and this way changing normative beliefs about risky behaviour, which, when overestimated, are a predictor of risky behaviour. Objective To explore whether the participation in PUNAV has an effect on alcohol use of future teachers and whether this relationship is mediated by descriptive normative belief regarding alcohol use while considering gender as a possible moderator of these processes. Methods The sample consisted of university students from Slovakia; n = 277, 78% women, Mage=22.23, SD = 2.12. The PUNAV effect was explored within an experimental design. The potential pre-test effect was rejected based on a comparison within the experimental groups and within the control groups (using Solomon model of four groups). The bootstrapping analysis was used to test for moderated mediation according to gender using SPSS Process macro and linear regressions. Results The results showed that participation in the PUNAV has a direct effect on alcohol consumption (AUDIT subscore) only among men (b=-1.88, 95%CI -2.9- -.8). An indirect effect through the descriptive normative beliefs about alcohol use (effect size: -.25, BootCI: -.46 - -.07) was found when the whole sample was taken into account. Participation in PUNAV was found to be related to normative beliefs about alcohol use (β=-.32, p&lt;.001) and these were related to alcohol consumption (β=.20, p&lt;.001). Conclusions Participation in the PUNAV, which aims primarily to develop the competencies of future teachers proved useful for prevention showing a significant effect with respect to their alcohol consumption. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by grant projects APVV-0253-11 and APVV-15-0662. Key messages Well-designed and databased prevention programs can affect risk behaviour among adult population. The importance of normative beliefs as a major strategy to achieve effectiveness of prevention programs has been constantly supported by empirical evidence.

scholarly journals The Role of Law Enforcement Officers/Police in Drug Prevention Within Educational Settings—Study Protocol for the Development of a Guiding Document Based on Experts’ Opinions

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2613
Author(s):  
Ziad El-Khatib ◽  
Celina Herrera ◽  
Giovanna Campello ◽  
Elizabeth Mattfeld ◽  
Wadih Maalouf
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Law Enforcement Officers ◽  
Drug Prevention ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
School Based

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime—World Health Organization International Standards on Drug Use Prevention—reflects the value of safe, nurturing and supportive social institutions around the lives of youths to benefit from the prevention of risky behavior extending beyond individually-developed resilience for healthy adolescent development. Schools are valuable social institutions to this effect and school safety and adolescent health outcomes can be threatened by drug use and violence. As such, collaborative, multi-level, evidence-based, developmentally sensitive, substance use prevention programs are imperative. The International Standards, in their latest version, did not reflect specific evidence of law enforcement officer-based programs with effect on drug use prevention, including in school settings. Nevertheless, the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and school-based substance use prevention programs continue to be the focus of research and policy. In this project, we aim to explore in more detail the role of law enforcement in preventing substance use in schools. We use mixed methods, including three phases: (i) scoping review on the best practices for effective law enforcement in school-based drug and crime prevention; (ii) interviews with experts, using the Delphi method, in substance use prevention and training law enforcement in school-based drug prevention; and iii) developing guidelines for law enforcement based on the findings. Initially, we identified a total of 17 papers that were categorized in four categories based on their results (negative or null effect n = 11 studies, positive effect n = 1 study, mixed effects n = 4 studies and indefinite conclusion n = 1 study). However, the authors of the studies with negative or null effect did recommend being cautious about these results due to the respective studies’ methodological limitations. The actual and perceived roles of police are largely unclear and/or variable. Therefore, clear outlines regarding law enforcement’s role within schools are crucial as one study showed that an officer’s role influences how they respond to student conduct. A secondary emergent theme from this review indicates that there is potential for positively impacting a youth’s perceptions of police through collaborative and engaging school-based programs. Currently the project is gradually moving to Phase II, where we are identifying the key experts based on scientifically published peer reviewed and grey literature/guidelines to investigate elements that make the role of law enforcement officers in school-based prevention more effective. Given the frequency with which policy makers around the world request information about the role of law enforcement in effective prevention efforts, guidelines on their roles within schools is a gap that needs to be filled. Such efforts would improve drug prevention in schools and better orient law enforcement’s role in drug prevention within educational settings.

Emerging Adults' Substance use and Risky Behaviors in Club Settings

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda A. Miller ◽  
C. Debra Furr-Holden ◽  
Robert B. Voas ◽  
Kristin Bright
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Electronic Music ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Breath Tests ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

This article explores the prevalence of drug and alcohol use and related risks by attendees at electronic music dance events (EMDEs) in club settings. From six events located on the East and West Coasts, anonymous data were collected via self-report questionnaires, drug bioassays, and alcohol breath tests prior to entry (N = 240) and upon exit from the venues (N = 219). EMDEs were locations for identifying young adults who were aged 18 to 25 (70%), not college students (54%), and at risk for substance use. Nearly half of the sample (45%) were positive for drug use, and 60% were positive for alcohol use at entrance. Slightly more than one third (38%) were positive for drug use, and 59% were positive for alcohol use at exit. Only a small percentage of the sample converted from no use to drug use on premises (5.4%). Future investigations need to explore targeted substance use prevention strategies within this context.

scholarly journals Cigarette Smoking and Its Associations with Substance Use and HIV-Related Sexual Risks among Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1653
Author(s):  
Wenjian Xu ◽  
Wanjie Tang ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Xin Shi ◽  
Yong Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sex With Men

China has the largest population of male smokers globally. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at greater risk of cigarette smoking compared to the general population. Limited data are available regarding cigarette smoking and its associations with other health issues among Chinese MSM. Eligible MSM (n = 1100) were recruited from mainland China using an online national cross-sectional survey conducted in 2014–2015. Socio-demographic characteristics, smoking behavior, substance use, homosexual stigma and outness, HIV-related risk behavior, and HIV status were obtained. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of current cigarette smoking frequency and the co-occurrence of smoking and drug use. Nearly 41% (n = 446) of participants had ever smoked cigarettes; 25% (n = 278) were current frequent smokers; and 13% (n = 138) were current infrequent smokers. Factors associated with a history of smoking included age, employment status, and monthly salary. Risk factors associated with current frequent smoking included self-identification as gay, having female sexual partners, binge drinking, drug use, higher levels of homosexual stigma, and being partially or fully “out” as gay. Adjusted multinomial analysis showed that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related risks, including risky sexual behaviors, lack of condom use, and a reported history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), were associated with co-occurrence of current smoking and drug use. Cigarette smoking rates remain high among MSM in China. Cigarette smoking is associated with binge drinking, drug use, and HIV-related risks in this community. There is a clear opportunity for smoking cessation interventions to be linked with HIV and substance use prevention interventions, thereby addressing multiple health issues simultaneously for the MSM community in China.

scholarly journals The Living the Example Social Media Substance Use Prevention Program: A Pilot Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e24 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Evans ◽  
Elizabeth Andrade ◽  
Sandra Goldmeer ◽  
Michelle Smith ◽  
Jeremy Snider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Substance Use Prevention ◽  
Upstate New York ◽  
Prevention Messages ◽  
The Social

Background Adolescent substance use rates in rural areas of the United States, such as upstate New York, have risen substantially in recent years, calling for new intervention approaches in response to this trend. The Mentor Foundation USA conducts the Living the Example (LTE) campaign to engage youth in prevention using an experiential approach. As part of LTE, youth create their own prevention messages following a training curriculum in techniques for effective messaging and then share them via social media. This paper reports on a pilot evaluation of the LTE program. Objective To conduct a pilot test of LTE in two rural high schools in upstate New York. We hypothesized that positive antidrug brand representations could be promoted using social media strategies to complement the Shattering the Myths (STM) in-person, event-based approach (hypothesis 1, H1), and that youth would respond positively and engage with prevention messages disseminated by their peers. We also hypothesized that exposure to the social media prevention messages would be associated with more positive substance use avoidance attitudes and beliefs, reductions in future use intentions, and decreased substance use at posttest (hypothesis 2, H2). Methods We adapted a previously published curriculum created by the authors that focuses on branding, messaging, and social media for prevention. The curriculum consisted of five, one-hour sessions. It was delivered to participating youth in five sequential weeks after school at the two high schools in late October and early November 2016. We designed a pre- and posttest pilot implementation study to evaluate the effects of LTE on student uptake of the intervention and short-term substance use and related outcomes. Working at two high schools in upstate New York, we conducted a pilot feasibility evaluation of LTE with 9th-grade students (ie, freshmen) at these high schools. We administered a 125-item questionnaire online to capture data on media use; attitudes toward social media; next 30-day personal drug use intentions; personal reasons to use drugs; reasons participants believe their peers would use drugs; self-reported exposure to the LTE program; and receptivity to the LTE program, among those reporting exposure. We constructed multivariable logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between program receptivity and outcomes. First, in a cross-sectional logistic regression model, we regressed self-reported LTE message receipt on drug use intent and actions related to LTE messaging. Then, for analysis of participants with matched pre- and posttest responses, we used multilevel generalized estimating equation (GEE) techniques to model changes in behavior from baseline to follow-up. Results Youth reported increased intentions to use marijuana (odds ratio [OR] 2.134, P=.02) between pre- and posttest. However, youth who reported exposure and receptivity to LTE reported a significant decrease in intentions (OR 0.239, P=.008). We observed a similar pattern for sedatives/sleeping pills—an increase in intentions overall (OR 1.886, P=.07), but a decrease among youth who reported exposure and receptivity to LTE (OR 0.210, P=.02). We saw the same pattern for use of any drug—an increase in reported intentions overall (OR 2.141, P=.02), but a decrease among youth who reported exposure and receptivity to LTE (OR 0.111, P=.004). Conclusions We observed some evidence of significant LTE program effects. Social media may be an effective strategy for peer-to-peer substance use prevention in the future. These findings point both to the potential of LTE and the social media diffusion model and to the need for more research on a larger scale with an expanded youth population in the future.

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