Implementation and Impact of a Family-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Program in Rural Communities

A family-based alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention program was evaluated. The program targeted families with students entering middle or junior high school. The goals of the program were to increase resiliency and protective factors including family cohesion, communication skills, school attachment, peer attachment, and appropriate attitudes about alcohol and tobacco use by adolescents. The Families In Action program is a structured program which includes six 2 1/2 hour sessions, offered once a week for six consecutive weeks to parents and youth. The program was offered to all eligible families in eight rural school districts. Families who chose to participate began the program with lower scores on several protective factors as compared to nonparticipating families. Analysis of covariance controlling for initial differences found several positive effects of program participation at the one year follow-up. The results were strongest for boys. These findings suggest that providing parents and youth with similar communication skills can be an effective approach to substance abuse prevention.     

The Direct and Indirect Effects of Mothers' and Adolescents' Family Cohesion on Young Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Substance Use

This study examined the influence of parental, school, and peer bonding for rural youth making the transition into middle school. Survey data were collected from 225 adolescents and their mothers answering parallel items on family cohesion, school attachment, and attitudes toward substance use by minors. Adolescents also reported on social support from friends, and mothers reported on the family's involvement in religious activities. Using structural equation modeling, greater family cohesion at the start of middle school / junior high was directly and indirectly related to negative attitudes toward substance use by the adolescent one year later. Factors that mediated family cohesion were school and peer attachment, the family's involvement in religious activities, and the mothers' attitudes toward substance use by minors. Implications for prevention and recommendations for parents are discussed.     

The television, school and family smoking prevention/cessation project. II. Formative evaluation of television segments by teenagers and parents - implications for parental involvement in drug education

The present study assessed attitudes of 45 seventh graders andof an independent sample of 52 unrelated parents (of seventhgrade students) regarding a mass media-enhanced social psychologicallyoriented cigarette smoking prevention program. The assessmentrepresented a formative evaluation of family-involvement relatedvariables to aid in the development of a future family-focusedsubstance-abuse prevention program. The results were: (i)adultsand youths expressed much interest in having parents be activelyinvolved in prevention interventions; (ii) adults favored minimallyassertive interaction strategies in family-oriented preventionstrategies with their children, although they encouraged theirchildren to be assertive regarding parental cessation efforts;(iii) two of the most interesting prevention components to adults(peer and media influences) were the least interesting componentsto youths; and (iv) learning of prevention material was consistentwith the differential interest results, although parents generallyknew the prevention knowledge item answers even at pretest.This study high-lighted the usefulness of a pretest-media presentation-posttestformative evaluation procedure with independent samples differingin family role status to help improved family-oriented drugeducation programming.     

The Roles of Parenting,Church Attendance,and Depression in Adolescent Smoking

The aim of the present study was to identify contextual factors related to smoking among urban African-American and White adolescents. We administered a survey assessing demographic and psychosocial variables to 299 adolescents in an urban pediatric clinic in the Midwest. Results indicated that being female, older age, lower academic performance, depressive symptoms, less frequent church attendance, parental smoking, and parental attitudes toward smoking were related to adolescent smoking. After controlling for demographics, the multivariate model predicting adolescent smoking included depressive symptoms, less frequent church attendance, and parental disapproval of smoking. Given these findings, efforts to decrease adolescent smoking may be enhanced by attending to depressive symptoms demonstrated by adolescents as well as contextual factors including parental attitudes and church attendance.     

幼儿家长对预防性侵家庭教育的态度及需求分析

  目的  了解泸州市幼儿家长对预防性侵家庭教育的态度和需求现况,为开展防性侵家庭教育提供理论依据。  方法  采用分层整群抽样方法对4 420名泸州市幼儿家长进行防性侵教育态度和需求调查,采用多重线性回归模型对教育态度的影响因素进行分析。  结果  家长对幼儿防性侵教育的态度整体较为积极,平均分为(16.70±3.67)分。多因素分析结果显示,幼儿因素方面,独生子女家长态度更积极(β=0.30);社会因素方面,参与过相关活动(β=1.28)、与亲友交流过相关内容(β=0.81)、住在城区(β=0.49)家长的态度更积极;家长因素方面,家庭年均收入大于10万元(β=0.39)、被调查人是幼儿母亲(β=0.88)、家长防性侵教育知识了解程度高(β=0.98)、幼儿母亲的职业是教师或医护人员(β=0.52)、幼儿母亲的文化水平在高中/中专(β=1.03)和大专/本科及以上(β=1.42)家长的态度更积极(P值均 < 0.01)。需求分析结果显示,家长对幼儿“自我保护”方面的需求最高,达96.86%。  结论  泸州市幼儿家长对预防性侵家庭教育的态度整体较为积极、需求普遍较高,应加大对非独生子女、农村和乡镇地区、文化水平较低家长的知识培训和宣传,提升家庭防性侵教育知识素养,预防幼儿性侵。     

Enrollment and Attendance in a Parent Training Prevention Program for Conduct Problems

Low levels of enrollment and attendance in parent training programs present major problems for researchers and clinicians. The literature on enrollment and attendance in prevention programs is especially limited, and these constructs may be particularly difficult to address in this context. Further, most previous research has not made the distinction between enrollment and attendance. This study describes predictors of enrollment and attendance in a behavioral parent training program intended to prevent conduct problems in preschoolers. Information was gathered from 106 preschoolers, their parents, and their teachers. Parent socioeconomic status (SES), single parent status, ethnicity, child externalizing behavior, parent depressive symptoms, and parent social support were investigated as possible predictors of families’ enrollment and attendance. Only 48% of the families that had already provided informed consent and completed demographic questionnaires actually enrolled in the parent training program; parents with lower incomes and lower levels of social support were less likely to enroll. In addition, African-American and Puerto Rican families were less likely to enroll than Caucasian families. The average attendance rate for enrolled parents was 61%; dual parents and parents with children evidencing externalizing behavior problems attended more parent training sessions. Parent depression was not associated with enrollment or attendance. Significant relationships were maintained when controlling for other predictors including SES and when accounting for center-level variance. In addition, three distinct patterns of attendance were observed, which may have practical implications related to retention strategies.     

Workplace health promotion and utilization of health services

This article reports findings from a workplace substance abuse prevention program designed to investigate best practices. The study sought to assess the effects of the worksite wellness program and employee assistance program (EAP) on healthcare utilization and costs, identify predictors of outpatient costs and visits, and assess the effect of the intervention on health attitudes, behaviors, and behavioral health-related costs and visits. Results indicated that visits to the EAP increased as did overall healthcare visits, that utilization of healthcare services and costs were higher in the population receiving substance abuse prevention intervention, and that employees in the substance abuse prevention intervention reported lower heavy drinking and binge drinking. Data suggest that substance abuse prevention may result in higher healthcare costs and utilization in the short term, but a reduction in health risk behaviors such as heavy drinking may result in lower healthcare costs and utilization in the long term.     

Substance Abuse in Children of Parents with Mental Illness: Risks, Resiliency, and Best Prevention Practices

Published research on the effects of parental mental illness diagnosis or symptoms on childhood substance abuse (SA) is reviewed. Family and environmental circumstances related to having a parent with a mental illness also put these children at risk for SA. Risk and protective factors for developing a substance use or related disorder in these children are summarized. Recommendations for SA prevention in children of parents with mental illness are presented and used to critique existing substance abuse prevention programs. Limitations of the research are noted vis-à-vis lack of participant racial/ethnic diversity, inconsistent results, methodological flaws, and few efficacy studies.     

Substance abuse prevention in the workplace: Recent findings and an expanded conceptual model

The majority of heavy drinkers and users of illicit drugs are employed adults, yet there is a dearth of sophisticated substance abuse prevention efforts in the workplace. This article reviews the approaches to worksite-based substance abuse prevention and presents the results of a field test of a prevention program aimed at the individual worker. Based on these findings and other theoretical perspectives from the literature, an expanded conceptual model for workplace substance abuse prevention is presented.     

Do adolescents perceive police officers as credible instructors of substance abuse prevention programs?

Although program recipients' attitudes toward instructors are crucial to program outcomes, they have not been adequately examined in the substance abuse prevention literature. This study uses survey data to explore attitudes toward instructors of prevention programming held by students from a national longitudinal evaluation of a school-based substance abuse prevention program delivered by Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) officers. Our analyses indicated that students who had police officers as instructors evaluated program instructors significantly higher than students who had non-police officers as instructors. The evaluation of police instructors varied according to students' sociodemographic characteristics. Implications for future research and practice are considered.     

Peer Reviewed: Talking Parents, Healthy Teens: A Worksite-based Program for Parents to Promote Adolescent Sexual Health

Parents play an important role in the sexual health of their adolescent children. Based on previous research, formative research, and theories of behavioral change, we developed Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, an intervention designed to help parents improve communication with their adolescent children, promote healthy adolescent sexual development, and reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviors. We conduct the parenting program at worksites to facilitate recruitment and retention of participants. The program consists of 8 weekly 1-hour sessions during the lunch hour. In this article, we review the literature that identifies parental influences on adolescent sexual behavior, summarize our formative research, present the theoretical framework we used to develop Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, describe the program's components and intervention strategies, and offer recommendations based on our experiences developing the program. By targeting parents at their worksites, this program represents an innovative approach to promoting adolescent sexual health. This article is intended to be helpful to health educators and clinicians designing programs for parents, employers implementing health-related programs, and researchers who may consider designing and evaluating such worksite-based programs.     

Talking parents, healthy teens: a worksite-based program for parents to promote adolescent sexual health

Parents play an important role in the sexual health of their adolescent children. Based on previous research, formative research, and theories of behavioral change, we developed Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, an intervention designed to help parents improve communication with their adolescent children, promote healthy adolescent sexual development, and reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviors. We conduct the parenting program at worksites to facilitate recruitment and retention of participants. The program consists of 8 weekly 1-hour sessions during the lunch hour. In this article, we review the literature that identifies parental influences on adolescent sexual behavior, summarize our formative research, present the theoretical framework we used to develop Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, describe the program's components and intervention strategies, and offer recommendations based on our experiences developing the program. By targeting parents at their worksites, this program represents an innovative approach to promoting adolescent sexual health. This article is intended to be helpful to health educators and clinicians designing programs for parents, employers implementing health-related programs, and researchers who may consider designing and evaluating such worksite-based programs.     

Contextual Fit of a Family Evidence-Based Intervention for Preventing Youth Alcohol Use in Mexico

Reducing youth alcohol use is a public health priority that can be addressed by implementing evidence-based preventive interventions (EBPIs) with high fidelity. However, when EBPIs are delivered in a new geographical setting, lack of contextual fit might interfere with expected effects. The purpose of our study was to understand the contextual fit of the family preventive program, Guiding Good Choices (GGC), to inform its future adaptation in Zacatecas, Mexico. Four focus groups were conducted with parents of children aged 9–14 years (N?=?43) from four private companies. After transcribing audiotaped sessions, we used a general inductive approach to obtain codes and derive themes. Parents expressed a high level of interest in program content, highlighting its potential to decrease underage drinking in Mexico. Surface-structure modifications of program audiovisual materials (e.g., new videos with Mexican actors and locations) and delivery methods were recommended by parents to maximize participant acceptability and engagement. Participant definitions of family and perception of family dynamics both support the cultural relevance of the program modules and activities related to this content. Underage drinking was acknowledged by parents as a major problem in Zacatecas. Our findings suggest a need for incorporating an extra session that focuses on addressing low alcohol literacy levels and parents’ positive alcohol expectancies. Machismo was not considered a cultural factor that could affect attendance and program activities. In fact, we observed an opportunity to use local masculinity to ensure practice of parental skills at home. Due to the needs expressed by participants and the apparent compatibility and fit of the curriculum contents with the new context, we conclude that GGC could be an adequate EBPI for preventing underage drinking in Mexico.

     

Entre-Parents: Initial Outcome Evaluation of a Preventive-Parenting Program for French-Speaking Parents

Entre-Parents is the French adaptation of Parenting Our Children to Excellence, an eight-session group-parenting program for parents of preschoolers. An evaluation conducted in the French-speaking part of Switzerland with 132 parents provides initial evidence for the community acceptability and efficacy of Entre-Parents. Program attendance was high (average of 6.6 out of the 8 sessions), and parents participated actively in sessions and expressed high levels of program satisfaction. Results indicate that, over time, the program contributed to more effective parenting practices, a reduction in parenting stress, an increase in family adaptability, and increases in children’s social competence and reductions in their disruptive and anxious behaviors. Some of these benefits were stronger for parents who attended more sessions.     

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention in Wisconsin Public Schools

This survey assessed the status of Wisconsin public school district programs designed to prevent alcohol and other drug related problems among students. The assessment involved surveying prevention program directors of 102 school districts that received grants for prevention initiatives since 1981. Most districts (70%) implemented programs at the elementary, middle, and senior high school levels. Typical program strategies involved combining information dissemination with refusal skill and self-concept development. School programs predominantly were school-based and did not systematically involve community members or agencies. The greatest obstacles to providing effective prevention services include high rates of alcohol and other drug use in homes and communities, denial of alcohol and other drug related problems among students, parents, and community members, and lack of staff time for prevention activities. Project directors indicated a need for schools to initiate greater involvement of parents, nonschool alcohol and drug abuse prevention agencies, and other community organizations in school efforts.     

Parent Training via CD-ROM: Using Technology to Disseminate Effective Prevention Practices

Family-based prevention programs have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing risk factors for substance abuse. The lack of efficient methods for training staff and insuring treatment integrity and the limited time that program progenitors have for dissemination impede the spread of these programs. Additionally, there are barriers to families who use these programs such as stigma associated with a parent education or mental health approach, transportation and access difficulties, and inability to commit to months of treatment sessions. New developments in technology can surmount most of these barriers. The author describes a video-based interactive CD-ROM for training parents and families in child management and relationship enhancement skills. The program's development was based on two premises which are well-supported in the literature. One premise is that interactive videodisk programs increase knowledge and performance more efficiently than do standard methods of instruction. The other is that videotaped modeling of parenting skills is as effective in producing improvements in child behavior as are parent education discussion groups and parent training with a therapist. The CD-ROM program is self-administered, highly interactive, and brief, requiring no trained staff for its delivery. Users receives feedback about their choices from the computer, not a person, thus minimizing defensiveness. Controlled evaluations show improvements in knowledge and parenting skills, and reductions in child behavior problems. Many teens moved from the clinical range of behavior problems to the normal range after their mothers used the program. Replication efforts by service providers and universities are underway due to the program's ease of implementation and evaluation. Gaps in knowledge about this approach include general long-term effects, and, more specifically, how the program will affect ethnically diverse populations, how repetition and use by other family members affects outcomes, and how to overcome mental health professionals' resistance to the technology. Prevention practice can be improved with this approach since it can be disseminated relatively quickly and inexpensively, with very high treatment integrity. The convenience and lack of stigma can increase participation by parents prior to their becoming distressed by their children's behavior problems. Existing programs can incorporate and evaluate CD-ROM parent training, while new efforts will be encouraged by such an inexpensive program. Program changes, based upon research feedback, can be incorporated rapidly without the difficulty of retraining program staff.     

Family education in the workplace: A prevention program for working parents and school-age children

Many school-age children from diverse backgrounds take care of themselves before or after school while their parents are away from home. Research on the nature of the self-care situation as well as the characteristics of the children who are most affected has grown considerably. Recent studies conclude that understanding and addressing the unique aspects of each self-care situation is more important than debating whether or not self-care, as a distinct entity, has a positive or negative affect on children. This paper describes a new workplace-based prevention program for families with children home alone. Through a series of six workshops, the program helps parents determine if their children are ready to be on their own and, if so, how they can best prepare. Using activities which are based on methods of prevention technology, the program teaches parents and children about family communication, safety in the home and neighborhood, decision-making and substance abuse.     

Spirituality within the family and the prevention of health risk behavior among adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand

This study investigates the influences of a family's spiritual beliefs and practices on substance use and sexual risk behaviors among young adolescents 13-14 years old in Bangkok, Thailand. Independent predictor variables are the parents' and teens' spiritual beliefs and practices in Buddhism and parental monitoring behaviors. The study uses data from the 2007 Baseline Survey of the Thai Family Matters Project, which adapted a U.S. based family prevention program for Thai culture. A representative sample of 420 pairs of parents and teens from the Bangkok metropolitan area was recruited to participate in the study. Structural equation models indicate that positive direct and indirect associations of the spirituality of parents and teens within a family and the prevention of adolescent risk behaviors are significant and consistent.     

Team Awareness for Workplace Substance Abuse Prevention: The Empirical and Conceptual Development of a Training Program

This paper describes the empirical and theoretical development of a workplace training program to help reduce/prevent employee alcohol and drug abuse and enhance aspects of the work group environment that support ongoing prevention. The paper (1) examines the changing social context of the workplace (e.g., teamwork, privacy issues) as relevant for prevention, (2) reviews studies that assess risks and protective factors in employee substance abuse (work environment, group processes, and employee attitudes), (3) provides a conceptual model that focuses on work group processes (enabling, neutralization of deviance) as the locus of prevention efforts, (4) describes an enhanced team-oriented training that was derived from previous research and the conceptual model, and (5) describes potential applications of the program. It is suggested that the research and conceptual model may help prevention scientists to assess the organizational context of any workplace prevention strategy. The need for this team-oriented approach may be greater among employees who experience psychosocial risks such as workplace drinking climates, social alienation, and policies that emphasize deterrence (drug testing) over educative prevention. Limitations of the model are also discussed.     

Drama-based education to motivate participation in substance abuse prevention

Background  

The substance abuse prevention goal of the theatre production "TUNNELS" was to provide community education on substance abuse to an audience in Durham, NC and surrounding communities. The education effort intended to increase awareness and understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with alcohol and other drug use, and to promote pro-active behaviors in substance abuse prevention within the adult community. It was hypothesized that community-based education via drama would change attitudes toward alcohol and substance abuse, and increase participation in family and community activities aimed at substance abuse prevention.