Williams Christopher, Griffin Kenneth W, Mehta Ruchi K, Botvin Gilbert J
National Health Promotion Associates, White Plains, New York, USA.
State University of New York at Purchase College, Purchase, New York, USA.
Health Justice. 2021 Feb 2;9(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s40352-021-00128-8.
Universal school-based prevention programs for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are typically designed for all students within a particular school setting. However, it is unclear whether such broad-based programs are effective for youth at risk for substance use and violence in juvenile justice settings.
The present study tested the feasibility, appropriateness, and efficacy of a preventive intervention to reduce risk factors for substance use and delinquency among youth in juvenile justice diversionary settings by promoting positive youth development and building personal strengths and prosocial relationships. Participants in the study (N = 288) were predominantly male (69%) and in the 9th grade (14 years old) or higher (91%), received the preventive intervention, and completed confidential questionnaires at the pre-test and post-test.
The majority of youth who participated in the intervention rated the program topics (77.9%) and activities (72%) as appropriate for their age, would recommend it to their peers (73.6%), and would use the skills learned in the future (85.4%). Comparison of post-test adjusted means revealed that the prevention program had a significant positive impact on key knowledge, attitudes, and skills including goal-setting, stress-management, and communication skills.
The findings indicate that an evidence-based prevention approach adapted for youth diversionary settings can be effectively implemented and well-received by participating youth, and can produce positive changes in psychosocial skills and protective factors known to prevent multiple risk behaviors among youth. Future efforts to implement substance use prevention in community juvenile justice settings may benefit from highlighting a positive youth development, skills-based approach.
针对酒精、烟草及其他药物使用的全校性预防项目通常是为特定学校环境中的所有学生设计的。然而，尚不清楚此类基础广泛的项目对处于少年司法环境中面临药物使用和暴力风险的青少年是否有效。
本研究测试了一种预防性干预措施的可行性、适宜性和有效性，该干预措施旨在通过促进青少年积极发展、培养个人优势和亲社会关系，来降低少年司法分流环境中青少年药物使用和犯罪的风险因素。该研究的参与者（N = 288）主要为男性（69%），处于九年级（14岁）或更高年级（91%），接受了预防性干预，并在测试前和测试后完成了保密问卷。
参与干预的大多数青少年认为项目主题（77.9%）和活动（72%）适合他们的年龄，会向同龄人推荐该项目（73.6%），并会在未来运用所学技能（85.4%）。测试后调整均值的比较显示，预防项目对包括目标设定、压力管理和沟通技巧在内的关键知识、态度和技能产生了显著的积极影响。
研究结果表明，一种适用于青少年分流环境的循证预防方法可以有效实施，并受到参与青少年的欢迎，且能在心理社会技能和已知可预防青少年多种风险行为的保护因素方面产生积极变化。未来在社区少年司法环境中实施药物使用预防的努力可能会受益于突出积极的青少年发展、基于技能的方法。
