Below we provide articles on effective prevention strategies, reviews of research published on prevention science, and science-based answers to common questions about prevention. Click on the titles below to view full articles and resources.
Effective ways to reduce prescription drug abuse - using universal prevention strategies
by Logan Reid, L.P.S., M.S.
Research published in 2008 in the journal, Addiction, showed that an effective way to reduce the likelihood of prescription drug abuse in adults is to provide Universal prevention programs to them when they are in their early teen years. A universal program is one that targets an entire population. Burckhardt et al., (2017) defines Universal programs as "Prevention programs that are delivered to all individuals irrespective of their level of symptomatology," in other words, their level of risk for behavior problems like drug use, (p. 1). Bodin (2016) says that when it comes to schools, a Universal program is one that targets "...all students to prevent the large majority of non-risk students from becoming at-risk," (p. 450).
Spoth et al., (2008), studied the long term effects of three universal programs on prescription drug abuse in adults.
Key Findings:
Universal prevention programs, (Strengthening Families, Preparing for Drug Free Years, and Botvins Life Skills Training), given to young teens and their parents can reduce their likelihood for prescription drug abuse later in life.
Study Overview:
This study looked at the long-term impact of universal prevention programs conducted with Middle School students on their prescription drug misuse later in life. They used students from rural communities in the midwestern United States. During 6th grade, test students were either part of a Strengthening Families Program, a Preparing for the Drug Free Years Program, or a Botvins Life Skills Program. Another (control) group of students did not go through any prevention programs. They then surveyed the students and their families again after 11th or 12th grade, (when students were between the ages of 18 and 22). They compared the results of the two groups
Research published in 2008 in the journal, Addiction, showed that an effective way to reduce the likelihood of prescription drug abuse in adults is to provide Universal prevention programs to them when they are in their early teen years. A universal program is one that targets an entire population. Burckhardt et al., (2017) defines Universal programs as "Prevention programs that are delivered to all individuals irrespective of their level of symptomatology," in other words, their level of risk for behavior problems like drug use, (p. 1). Bodin (2016) says that when it comes to schools, a Universal program is one that targets "...all students to prevent the large majority of non-risk students from becoming at-risk," (p. 450).
Spoth et al., (2008), studied the long term effects of three universal programs on prescription drug abuse in adults.
Key Findings:
Universal prevention programs, (Strengthening Families, Preparing for Drug Free Years, and Botvins Life Skills Training), given to young teens and their parents can reduce their likelihood for prescription drug abuse later in life.
Study Overview:
This study looked at the long-term impact of universal prevention programs conducted with Middle School students on their prescription drug misuse later in life. They used students from rural communities in the midwestern United States. During 6th grade, test students were either part of a Strengthening Families Program, a Preparing for the Drug Free Years Program, or a Botvins Life Skills Program. Another (control) group of students did not go through any prevention programs. They then surveyed the students and their families again after 11th or 12th grade, (when students were between the ages of 18 and 22). They compared the results of the two groups
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The study showed that students who went through these universal prevention programs were less likely to abuse prescription drugs later in life. The Strengthening Families program had a bigger impact than the Preparing for the Drug Free Years program, but both groups were significantly lower than the control group. Those going through the Life Skills Training had lower prescription drug abuse rates than the control, but the researchers said that it wasn’t enough of a difference to |
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be statistically significant. However, if they did Life Skills Training and their parents did the Strengthening Families Program, the reduction in prescription drug abuse was much lower when they were in 11th grade, (see chart on back).
Thoughts:
The researchers pointed out that these findings were especially interesting because none of these programs focused on prescription drug abuse or even drug abuse in general, and yet they reduced the likelihood of prescription drug misuse. I think it goes to show that doing universal prevention is incredibly important. It also shows the importance of doing comprehensive prevention, where we are combining more than one type of program, because those who had Life Skills Training AND Strengthening Families saw a much bigger reduction.
Logan is the Director of Prevention & Education Services at Southwest Behavioral Health Center
Resources:
Thoughts:
The researchers pointed out that these findings were especially interesting because none of these programs focused on prescription drug abuse or even drug abuse in general, and yet they reduced the likelihood of prescription drug misuse. I think it goes to show that doing universal prevention is incredibly important. It also shows the importance of doing comprehensive prevention, where we are combining more than one type of program, because those who had Life Skills Training AND Strengthening Families saw a much bigger reduction.
Logan is the Director of Prevention & Education Services at Southwest Behavioral Health Center
Resources:
- Bodin, M. C., South, S. H., & Ingemarson, M. (2016). A Quasi-Randomized Trial of a School-Wide Universal Prevention Program: Results and Lessons Learned. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 60(4), 449–476. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2015.1024164
- Burckhardt, R., Manicavasagar, V., Batterham, P. J., Hadzi-Pavlovic, D., & Shand, F. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy universal prevention program for adolescents: a feasibility study. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Mental Health, 11, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-017-0164-5
- Spoth, R., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., & Redmond, C. (2008). Long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on prescription drug misuse. Addiction, 103(7), 1160–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02160.x
does being religious reduce the likelihood of suicide?
Do Scare Tactics work?
This is a very complicated question to answer because there is a lot of research on this topic, and it is in-depth and complex. The short answer is: they can, but they should never be used, especially with kids, because they often backfire and they are never the most effective way to change behavior, (for more detailed information on this subject, we have a training that dives into the complex research; reach out to us and we'll share it).
Scare tactics (using fear or threats to change behavior) are very common, partly because they are easy to implement, and partly because they create emotion, which we often equate to behavior change. But emotion doesn't equal long-term behavior change, especially with youth. In fact, in many cases, increasing an adolescents anxiety about something - like the risk of dying in a drunk driving accident - could actually increase their likelihood to use, because sometimes they are drinking because they are anxious. So, especially with kids, research shows that scare tactics don't work very well, and even when they do work, their effects don't last very long.
Long-term behavior change is much more likely when prevention messages are positive, teach specific skills, are repetitive, and come from a person of trust. Download a quick factsheet to see some research about this here, or view a low-quality print below:
Scare tactics (using fear or threats to change behavior) are very common, partly because they are easy to implement, and partly because they create emotion, which we often equate to behavior change. But emotion doesn't equal long-term behavior change, especially with youth. In fact, in many cases, increasing an adolescents anxiety about something - like the risk of dying in a drunk driving accident - could actually increase their likelihood to use, because sometimes they are drinking because they are anxious. So, especially with kids, research shows that scare tactics don't work very well, and even when they do work, their effects don't last very long.
Long-term behavior change is much more likely when prevention messages are positive, teach specific skills, are repetitive, and come from a person of trust. Download a quick factsheet to see some research about this here, or view a low-quality print below:
