Prevention ResearchPrevention Research

Why study prevention research?Why study prevention research?

• Theories assist in identifying how we can Theories assist in identifying how we can prevent a problem behavior from occurring, prevent a problem behavior from occurring, taking the guesswork out of planningtaking the guesswork out of planning

Why review the six CSAP strategies?Why review the six CSAP strategies?• To know what the strategies are when To know what the strategies are when

encountered in grant applications, etc. encountered in grant applications, etc.

• To use as a tool to create a comprehensive To use as a tool to create a comprehensive prevention programprevention program

What ShouldWhat Should a Good Theory Do? a Good Theory Do?• Identify the factors that predict substance abuseIdentify the factors that predict substance abuse

• Explain the mechanisms through which they Explain the mechanisms through which they operateoperate

• Identify the internal and external variables that Identify the internal and external variables that influence these mechanisms, including cultural influence these mechanisms, including cultural factorsfactors

• Predict points to interrupt the course leading to Predict points to interrupt the course leading to substance abusesubstance abuse

• Specify the interventions to prevent onset Specify the interventions to prevent onset of substance abuseof substance abuse

• Similar to medical modelSimilar to medical model

• Problem behaviors share common Problem behaviors share common risk factorsrisk factors

• Risk factors increase the chance of Risk factors increase the chance of behavior problemsbehavior problems

• Protective factors can help buffer the Protective factors can help buffer the effects of risk factorseffects of risk factors

The Risk Factor/Protective The Risk Factor/Protective Factor TheoryFactor Theory

• Multiple studiesMultiple studies

• LongitudinalLongitudinal

• PredictivePredictive

Criteria for Inclusion Criteria for Inclusion as a Risk Factoras a Risk Factor

Community Risk FactorsCommunity Risk Factors

• Availability of drugsAvailability of drugs

• Community laws and norms Community laws and norms favorable toward drug usefavorable toward drug use

• Transitions and mobilityTransitions and mobility

• Low neighborhood attachment and Low neighborhood attachment and community disorganizationcommunity disorganization

• Extreme economic deprivationExtreme economic deprivation

Family Risk FactorsFamily Risk Factors

• Family history of substance abuseFamily history of substance abuse

• Family management problemsFamily management problems

• Family conflictFamily conflict

• Parental attitudes and Parental attitudes and involvement in drug useinvolvement in drug use

School Risk FactorsSchool Risk Factors

• Early and persistent antisocial behaviorEarly and persistent antisocial behavior

• Academic failure beginning in elementary Academic failure beginning in elementary schoolschool

• Lack of commitment to schoolLack of commitment to school

Individual/Peer Individual/Peer Risk FactorsRisk Factors

• Alienation /rebelliousnessAlienation /rebelliousness

• Friends who use drugsFriends who use drugs

• Favorable attitudes toward drugsFavorable attitudes toward drugs

• Early initiation of drug useEarly initiation of drug use

• Constitutional factorsConstitutional factors

Protective FactorsProtective Factors

• Individual characteristics

• Bonding

• Healthy beliefs and clear standards

Social Development StrategySocial Development Strategy

Bonding• Attachment •Commitment

IndividualCharacteristics

Healthy Beliefs&

Clear Standards

Opportunities Skills Recognition

Healthy Behaviors

Developmental AssetsDevelopmental Assets

• Emphasizes strengths in people

• Focuses on youth as resources, not problems

• Focuses on increasing the number of assets present in youths’ lives

• Is a “promising” framework

Resiliency ApproachResiliency Approach

• Focuses on how children “bounce back” in the face of adversity

• Based largely on the work of Emmy Werner

• Includes several factors which foster resilience in kids

• Is a “promising” approach

Case Studies on TheoriesCase Studies on Theories

1. Select a facilitator, a timekeeper, and a recorder.

2. Read the case study assigned to your group.

3. Determine which risk factors and protective factors are at work in your case.

4. Report back to whole group.

Case Studies on TheoriesCase Studies on Theories

1. Was there consensus on which risk factors were the most powerful?

2. Was there consensus on which protective factors were the most powerful?

3. How does the type of community determinewhich factors are at work?

4. How might the culture of the individuals determine which factors are at work?

Six Prevention StrategiesSix Prevention Strategies

• Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination

• Prevention EducationPrevention Education

• Alternative ActivitiesAlternative Activities

• Community-Based ProcessesCommunity-Based Processes

• Environmental ApproachesEnvironmental Approaches

• Problem Identification and ReferralProblem Identification and Referral

[Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)]

Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination

• Complementary to other prevention Complementary to other prevention approachesapproaches

• Appeal to youth’s motives for using Appeal to youth’s motives for using substances or perceptions of substance substances or perceptions of substance useuse

• Television and radio “spots” in choice air Television and radio “spots” in choice air timestimes

• Avoid the use of authority figuresAvoid the use of authority figures

Prevention EducationPrevention Education

• Interactive approaches engaging the target Interactive approaches engaging the target audience are more effectiveaudience are more effective

• Peer-led or include peer-led componentsPeer-led or include peer-led components

• Academic year or longer and involve Academic year or longer and involve booster sessions booster sessions

• Two sets of workshops that work to Two sets of workshops that work to improve parent skills along with improve parent skills along with adolescent skills adolescent skills

AlternativesAlternatives

• Part of a comprehensive prevention planPart of a comprehensive prevention plan

• High-risk youth who may not have High-risk youth who may not have adequate adult supervision can benefitadequate adult supervision can benefit

• Example: Community serviceExample: Community service

• One-shot community events do not, in One-shot community events do not, in themselves, change the behavior of themselves, change the behavior of participantsparticipants

Community-based ProcessesCommunity-based Processes• Characteristics of successful partnerships Characteristics of successful partnerships

include: include: ---- a clear vision a clear vision ---- committed partnership memberscommitted partnership members---- diverse participantsdiverse participants

• Paid coalition staff operate as resource Paid coalition staff operate as resource providers and facilitators providers and facilitators

• Elaborate committeeElaborate committee structures are not structures are not productiveproductive

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Examples include:Examples include:

• Excise taxesExcise taxes

• Minimum purchase age lawsMinimum purchase age laws

• ““Use and lose” laws. Penalties should not be Use and lose” laws. Penalties should not be too harsh.too harsh.

• Increasing the minimum purchase age for Increasing the minimum purchase age for alcohol to age 21alcohol to age 21

• Outlet densityOutlet density

Problem Identification Problem Identification and Referraland Referral

• Provide accurate estimatesProvide accurate estimates

• Be careful of labelingBe careful of labeling

• May expose youth to more problematic May expose youth to more problematic substance abuserssubstance abusers

• Example: family therapyExample: family therapy

Enhancing Enhancing Prevention ProgramsPrevention Programs

Directions:• Think of a familiar prevention program.• Select an appropriate CSAP strategy and

examine the research findings. Infuse research-based concepts into the program.

• Review the work sheets, Principles of Prevention for Children and Adolescents, and Prevention Strategies for Specific Settings. Infuse research-based concepts into the program.

• Prepare to share with the group.

Prevention ResearchPrevention Research

Why study prevention research?

• Theories assist in identifying how we can prevent a problem behavior from occurring, taking the guesswork out of planning.

Why review the six CSAP strategies?• To know what strategies are when

encountered in grant applications, etc.

• To use as a tool to create a comprehensive prevention program.

QUESTIONS QUESTIONS and and

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION