Substance Abuse Prevention

Fulfilling the Promise

Linda Dusenbury, Ph.D.Tanglewood Research

Estimated Cost of Drug Abuse

• $150 billion for illicit drug abuse • $200 billion for alcohol abuse• $100 billion for tobacco use• Costs rise approximately 6%

annually

Savings from Prevention

For every dollar spent:• Estimated savings of $2.50 to

$9.60• Average savings of $6.00

Questions to Consider

• What substance are kids most likely to use?

• What substance is most costly to our society?

• How do rates compare to national averages?

• What does California fund?

Comparison of Drug Use and Funding

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

85-86 87-88 89-90 91-92 93-94 95-96 97-98 99-00

Healthy Kids Program OfficeCalifornia Department of Education

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Drug UseFunding

FocusPrevention efforts designed to reach

youth in:• Schools• Families• Communities

Quality of Research

• Increasingly rigorous• Larger samples• More sophisticated research designs• More thorough data analysis• Greater concern for implementation

fidelity• More accurate assessment measures• Longer follow-ups

School-Based Programs

Findings from School-Based Studies

Research-Based Programs:• Reduce substance use• Produce lasting effects• Are cost effective

Key Elements ofEffective Programs

• Theoretically valid program content• Comprehensive approaches• Developmentally appropriate material• Sensitivity to the culture and community• Sufficient dosage and follow-up• Use of interactive teaching techniques• Well-trained, well-supported implementers• Continuing evaluation

Content of Effective Programs

• Norm Setting• Social Resistance Skill Training• Positive Youth Development

Norms

Refers to two concepts:• How common a behavior is• How acceptable a behavior is

How Do Different Groups of Drinkers Estimate Prevalence?

Estimates of Peer Group Prevalence

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

6 7 8 9 10 11 12Grade

Non Drinkers Light Drinkers Heavy Drinkers

Differences in Actual and Perceived Rates of Use

among 7th Graders

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Actual Estimated

Tobacco

Alcohol

Marijuana

Source: California Student Survey 2001-02

Norm Setting Approaches

• Correct erroneous perceptions of the norm among individuals

• Build positive norms among the peer group

• Reinforce positive norms within the community

Social Resistance Skills Training

• Recognizing influences• Developing cognitive techniques• Developing peer resistance skills

Positive Youth Development

• Personal Skills Decision Making Stress Management Goal Setting

• Social Skills Communication Skills General Social Skills Assertiveness Skills

Comprehensive Approaches

Provides services throughout childhood and adolescence

Provide consistent messages across all of the environments where young people spend their time:

• School• Family• Communities

Prevention Programs Also Promote Academic

AchievementAcademic achievement benefits from:• Social and personal skills• Positive norms• The reduction of multiple behaviors• Increased school bonding• Positive school climate• Involved families

Family-Based Approaches

Key Features of Effective Family-Based Programs

• Train parents to monitor/supervise children• Promote positive relationships• Help parents develop positive family norms• Emphasize family bonding• Provide training in communication• Work to reduce conflict• Train parents in positive discipline techniques • Create positive alternative activities

Community-Based Approaches

Key Features of Effective Community-Based

Programs• Promote positive norms in the community

as well as within school and family• Provide training to decision makers and

opinion leaders• Address the specific drug abuse problem

in the local community• Launch media campaigns and policy

changes that are accompanied by school and family interventions

• Enforce existing laws

Mentoring Programs

• Young people need positive relationships with caring adults for healthy development

• While the literature on mentoring is growing, rigorous evaluation studies of mentoring programs are limited

Findings from 5 Evaluations of Mentoring Programs

Mentored youth were:• Less likely to use alcohol and other drugs• More likely to attend school regularly• More likely to continue their education

beyond high school• More likely to have positive attitudes

toward school• Less likely to hit others

Faith Based Programs

• Research has found a consistent relationship between involvement in faith-based activities and reduced alcohol and drug use

• Research on faith-based interventions has been limited

Ineffective Prevention Strategies

• Scare tactics and moralistic appeals• Exclusive focus on factual

information• Exclusive focus on self-esteem• Testimonials by addicts• Congregating high-risk youth

What We Need

• Funding– Funding needs to be stable or

increased– Expand funding to include alcohol

• Effective Programs• Training and Technical Support

California Resource for Selecting Programs

California Healthy KidsResearch-Validated Programs and Trainingwww.californiahealthykids.org