Drug Prevention Programs Research Articles

Lifestyle changes in arterial hypertension - an important objective of cardiovascular rehabilitation. The role of physical exercise

Cardiovascular rehabilitation includes lifestyle changing measures, secondary drug prevention and physical training programs. Identifying and addressing cardiovascular risk factors, among which arterial hypertension, is an important objective of cardiovascular rehabilitation. Patients with arterial hypertension should be initially assigned to a cardiovascular risk class. Alongside drug therapy, a healthy diet and physical activity play an important role in the control of blood pressure values Keywords: arterial hypertension, physical exercise,

Social-Ecological Examination of Non-Consensual Sexting Perpetration among U.S. Adolescents

Adolescent sexting is a serious public health concern and is associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, declining academic performance, and health problems. Effective prevention of sexting requires a comprehensive and deep understanding of the multiple contexts whereby sexting is likely to occur. The present study explores individual and contextual risk and protective factors that are associated with sexting behavior among a large sample of adolescents. Participants were high school students in midwestern U.S. (N = 2501; LGB n = 309, 76.4% female; non-LGB n = 2192, 47.4% female) who completed self-report measures of sexting and risk (e.g., pornography exposure, impulsivity) and protective (e.g., social support) factors. Path analysis models were conducted with the sexting outcome for groups of LGB and non-LGB students. Among LGB students, results indicated a significant association between sexting and parental monitoring (b = −0.08, p < 0.01); pornography exposure (b = 0.13, p < 0.05); dating partners (b = 0.01, p < 0.01); bullying perpetration (b = 0.17, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.13; p < 0.001). Among non-LGB students, significant associations were found between sexting and alcohol/substance use (b = 0.05, p < 0.001); bullying (b = 0.08, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.06, p < 0.001). Moderation analyses suggest that parental monitoring may have a buffering effect between sexting and several risk factors. Recommendations for practitioners include considering the protective factors of sexting perpetration and encouraging appropriate levels of parental monitoring and the continued importance of bullying and alcohol and drug prevention programming to decrease risk factors of sexting perpetration.

Evaluating a school-based science program that teaches the physiological effects of nicotine

School-based drug prevention programs represent a widely endorsed public health goal, with an important aspect of knowledge-based curricula being education about the physiological effects of drugs. Nicotine is one of the world’s most addictive substances and in this program we have used nicotine-induced mammalian-like behaviors in flatworms called planarians to successfully teach students (4th-12th grade; n = 1,616 students) about the physiological and addictive effects of nicotine. An initial study tested the change in knowledge about addictive substances in 6th-12th grade students after they completed a lab examining the effects of two concentrations of nicotine on the number of stereotypies (C-shaped spasms) planarians demonstrate in a 5-minute period of time. Lab discussion focused on developing and testing hypotheses, measurement reliability, and mechanisms of nicotine action. Surveys given pre- and post-lab experience showed that 6th grade students have significantly lower knowledge about nicotine than 7th-12th grade students (6th grade: 40.65 ± 0.78% correct, 7th-12th grade: 59.29 ± 1.71%, p < 0.001) pre-lab, but that students in all grades showed a significant increase in knowledge post-lab (p < 0.001). In 6th grade the lab was effective in improving knowledge about nicotine in urban, suburban and rural schools, p < 0.001, with students in suburban schools showing significantly greater knowledge both pre-test (urban: 37.62 ± 1.45%; suburban: 48.78 ± 1.62%; rural: 37.33 ± 0.99%; p < 0.001) and post-test (urban:60.60 ± 1.85%; suburban: 67.54 ± 1.82%; urban: 61.66 ± 1.18%; p < 0.001).A second study, modifying the lab so that the time spent observing the planarians is reduced to a 1-minute period, showed that students in both 4th and 5th grades had a significant increase in knowledge about the physiological and addictive effects of nicotine post-lab (p < 0.001).

Universal Family Drug Prevention Programs. A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study offers a response to certain recent doubts that have been cast on universal programs’ preventive capacity. The main objective of this paper is to review effective universal family programs in order to carry out a cultural adaptation of SFP 10–14 for the Spanish population. Method: For this purpose, a systematic review was conducted of different databases and evidence-based practices. An analysis was made of the methodologies used in the identified programs, based on standardized criteria. A risk of bias assessment was performed. Results/Discussion: Nineteen studies were identified that report findings on the prevention of substance use, relating to 7 universal family-based prevention programs. Positive outcomes have been achieved by universal family-based substance prevention programs reported in studies with good methodological groundings. Universal prevention programs have become a key preventive tool in social contexts.

Moderating effect of illicit drug use on the relationship between sexual behaviours and prevalence of HIV or sexually transmitted infections.

We aimed to: (i) investigate sexual behaviours, substance use, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevalence among a population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taiwan; and (ii) examine the moderating effects of substance use in the relationship of sexual behaviours and HIV and STI diagnosis. We used the Taiwan 2013 Internet MSM Sex Survey conducted cross-sectionally online. We examined the association between sexual behaviours and HIV and STIs using logistic regression models. We then assessed the moderating effects of substance use between specific sexual behaviours and HIV and STI using interaction term. Among the 2020 MSM participants, 5.5% of them had reported having been diagnosed with HIV and 7.4% with STIs. Reporting having a sex partner found online, having unprotected anal sex with a casual male partner, alcohol and illicit drug use were all significantly associated with HIV and STI diagnosis. Those reporting having sex with partners found via mobile apps were more likely to report being HIV positive as a function of illicit drug use. A similar finding was evident for STIs. Interestingly, alcohol had no moderating effects in similar analyses. This study sheds light on future development of interventions that target at mobile apps which better integrate drug prevention and HIV prevention programs for the MSM population.

A latent class analysis of bullying among students: associations with social factors and alcohol use

Abstract Bullying is a behavior highly prevalent in schools worldwide and is associated with several mental disorders later in life. Considering its prevalence and impact in mental health, it is being recognized as a public health problem. We aimed to identify patterns of bullying victimization and perpetration in children and adolescence, and investigated its association with school performance, alcohol use and sociodemographic factors. A latent class analysis was conducted using baseline data collected from a randomized controlled trial conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug prevention program PROERD (the Brazilian adaptation of the the US program 'Keepin it REAL”) carried out among 1.742 students in 5th grade and 2.316 in 7th grade, from 30 public schools of São Paulo city, Brazil. Two models of four latent classes each were identified among the students, in 5th and 7th grade: Low bullying, Moderate bullying victimization, High bullying victimization and High bullying victimization and perpetration. In both grades, we found that alcohol use were associated to all bullying latent classes (e.g High bullying victimization and perpetration (aOR=5,63; 95%CI = [3,05; 10,38] and aOR=3,29; 95%CI = [1,28; 8,43], 5th and 7th grade respectively). In 5th grade, girls were more likely to belong to the “High bullying victimization” class and to “Moderate bullying victimization” (aOR=1,75; 95%CI = [1,02; 3,01] and aOR=1,47; 95%CI = [1,16; 1,87], respectively); students who reported to belonging to black or brown races were more likely to belong to 'High bullying victimization' class (aOR=3,35; 95%CI = [1,34; 8,37]); low and medium school grades were associated to High bullying victimization and perpetration (aOR=10,12; 95%CI = [4,19; 24,41]) and Moderate bullying victimization (aOR=1,63; 95%CI = [1,17; 2,27]). The results show the need to implement school prevention programs that simultaneously address alcohol use and bullying components, besides taking into account race and gender norms. Key messages Bullying profiles help us to understand how this type of violence happens among students. And the associated factors indicate which groups are at greatest risk and need more attention. The use of alcohol associated with all latent classes, besides showing the impacts of bullying, it also indicates the importance of bullying prevention programs to address substance use prevention.

Relative Reduction in Prevalence (RRP): An Alternative to Cohen\u2019s Effect Size Statistics for Judging Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Prevention Outcomes

Jacob Cohen developed two statistical measures for judging the magnitude of effects produced by an intervention, known as Cohen’s d, appropriate for assessing scaled data, and Cohen’s h, appropriate for assessing proportions. These have been widely employed in evaluating the effectiveness of alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and other drug prevention efforts. I present two tests to consider the adequacy of using these statistics when applied to drug use prevention programs. I used student survey data from grades 6 through 12 (N = 1,963,964) collected by the Georgia Department of Education between 2015 and 2017 and aggregated at the school level (N = 1036). I calculated effect sizes for an imaginary drug prevention program that (1) reduced 30-day alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana prevalence by 50%; and (2) maintained 30-day prevalence at a pretest level for multiple years. While both approaches to estimating intervention effects represent ideal outcomes for prevention that surpass what is normally observed, Cohen’s statistics failed to reflect the effectiveness of these approaches. I recommend including an alternative method for calculating effect size for judging program outcomes. This alternative method, Relative Reduction in Prevalence (RRP), calculates ratio differences between treatment and control group drug use prevalence at posttest and follow-up, adjusting for differences observed at pretest. RRP allows researchers to state the degree to which an intervention could be viewed as efficacious or effective that can be readily understood by practitioners.

Exploring the Role of OT in School-Based Drug Prevention

Abstract Date Presented 03/26/20 This qualitative research study sought to understand the knowledge of school personnel concerning adolescent drug use and the role of OT in school-based drug prevention. Understanding of the role of OT was gathered, and facilitators of and barriers to school-based prevention were identified. Results of this study can be used to increase knowledge of OT among school personnel and articulate OT’s distinct value in school systems, particularly regarding drug-prevention programs. Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Aust

Characteristics of school-based drug prevention programs in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to identify the main characteristics of school-based drug prevention programs in Brazil and verify whether these interventions apply the prevention principles suggested by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). A cross-sectional study was conducted using a random national sample of 1,151 public and private school managers. The data were collected using an online questionnaire. Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with the application of a greater number of prevention principles in the programs. The findings showed that programs were generally sporadic, had an average duration of one semester, incorporated different program models, and primarily directed at students. The most active organization in the delivery of programs was the Military Police. Private schools were shown to be 14% more likely to apply more good practice principles than public schools. Furthermore, programs delivered by school staff, health institutions, or departments of education were more likely to apply more prevention principles. Efforts are needed to improve drug prevention practice in Brazilian schools. Our findings show that, overall, school-based drug prevention programs do not apply the NIDA prevention principles.

EFFECTIVENESS OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AMONG SCHOOLS IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

&lt;p&gt;This research was done in order to analyse the need for effective drug awareness training programs, to identify and analyse the key characteristics of effective drug prevention programs and to propose a framework for effective delivery of Drug Prevention Programs in schools of UAE. Hence, a survey was done to get to the findings of the research. As a result, a quantitative study among school children has been conducted across 4 schools involving 201 students. This research, with particular emphasis on the effectiveness of drug and substance abuse prevention programs among schools in Dubai Emirates. The findings of this study have shown that there is a need for effective drug awareness training programs, as the results have shown that 11.6% of all students have indeed used drugs. The results have also shown that there are three main characteristics which will make the drug prevention programs more effective. The three key characteristics are drug awareness training program through counselling, involving parents and community as well as using interactive program and multimedia in order to boost student’s confidence and increase resistance skills against the use of drugs. Hence, it is recommended that drug awareness programs alone will not be fully effective in reducing the use of drugs among students in Dubai, UAE.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0686/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

TRANSFORMATIONAL REHABILITATION: COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION TO END THE DRUG MENACE

Eradication of the drug menace is the centerpiece program of the Duterte administration. The President claims there are more than 4 million drug users in the country. The police, used the “tok tok-hangyo” or “knock and appeal” approach, to encourage drug users, pushers and others involved to surrender and stop their illegal activities. The nationwide response was overwhelming as 1,176,523, pushers and users submitted voluntarily to authorities. In Tanauan, Leyte, 396 persons, and still increasing, surrendered. Without a national blueprint on how to deal with this problem, Local Governments are left to craft their own programs to help their constituents. The Transformational Rehabilitation Plan Community-Based Approach to Drug Prevention and Moral Recovery Program, a 3-Phases modular approach was implemented with a general objective to enable the participant to understand the process of healing and recovery from their old lifestyles and embrace the new life for the future.

Youth Experiences with Social Norms Feedback: Qualitative Findings from The Drug Prevention Trial the GOOD Life.

Background: Normative feedback is an intervention strategy commonly used in drug prevention programmes. This study collected process evaluation data about how programme recipients engage with social norms (SN) feedback in The GOOD Life intervention and how they experience it. Methods: Eight focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 44 adolescents (pupils aged 14–16 years) who have participated in the social-norms-based intervention The GOOD Life. The interviews focused on three topics: (1) interest in and impact of the intervention; (2) perception of the intervention elements; and (3) suggestions for improvement of The GOOD Life. They were transcribed and analysed with content analysis. Results: The analysis revealed that The GOOD Life motivated pupils to re-evaluate their own drug use behaviour and overall met their interest regarding receiving engaging and non-moral forms of drug prevention programmes. While pupils perceived the normative feedback session in the classroom and the posters with SN messages as positive, stimulating and surprising, the web-based application with SN feedback was rarely used and less positively evaluated. Anonymity and confidentiality were regarded as essential to provide honest answers in the poll. The pupils suggested even more variety in ways to engage them and to use more gaming elements. Conclusions: SN feedback was well perceived by adolescents. The intervention met their interest and needs and was able to achieve the intended impact of challenging norm perceptions. Anonymity and confidentiality are key in order to build trust and engage adolescents in the intervention.

The Effectiveness of Law Application against the Crime of Narcotics Abuse of Category I According to Law Number 35 of 2019 concerning Narcotics (At BNNP Bengkulu)

Narcotics are substances or drugs derived from plants or non-plants, both synthetic and semisynthetic, which can cause a decrease or change in consciousness, loss of taste, reduce to eliminate pain, and can cause dependence, which are divided into groups as attached in Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics. Abuse is a person who uses narcotics without rights or against the law. The National Narcotics Agency of Bengkulu Province is a vertical Government Institution located under and responsible to the National Narcotics Agency which is an institution that aims to carry out the Drug Prevention and Illicit Trafficking Program (P4GN) with various activities through the field of Prevention and Community Empowerment. In hindsight, the problem in this research is the application of law in handling the abuse of narcotics crime class I at BNNP Bengkulu. Theories of the causes of crime as for several theories about the causes of crime, this type of research is an empirical research. Narcotics abuse of class I in the National Narcotics Agency of Bengkulu Province. Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (P4GN) with various activities through the field of prevention and community empowerment in the field of Rehabilitation and the Field of Implementation of strategic plans and work plans in the field of opposition and eradication and illicit trafficking of narcotics, psychotropics, precursors and addictive substances other than addictive substances for tobacco and alcohol which was later called P4GN in the Bengkulu Province Region. Implementation of technical policies in the field of community empowerment, rehabilitation and eradication in the Bengkulu Province Region.

Substance Use Among Women And Children In Afghanistan: The Complexities Of An Important Public Health Issue

National surveys of drug use among those living in Afghanistan shows multiple substances are easily accessible and commonly used in combination. The drug use situation in Afghanistan is complex and compounded with concern for its future given that Afghanistan is a country comprised of individuals who almost half (48%) are under the age of 15. The number of women and children reported drug use have been increased alarmingly in last one and half decades. However, drug treatment services expanded in urban areas of Afghanistan but still there is need for evidence based and culturally appropriate drug prevention and treatment program in rural areas and to fulfill the constitutional obligation there is an obvious need for strong institutions to refine coordination of counternarcotic efforts.

Drug Use Intention and Associated Factors Among College Students: A Survey Conducted in Beijing

Previous studies and reports of drug abuse cases in China indicate that college students’ perceptions and attitudes toward illegal drugs may have been greatly impacted by the changing social surroundings. However, little work has been done to assess empirically their willingness and perceptions of using drugs. This paper, therefore, focuses on examining the intention of college students’ drug using and its influential factors. It draws upon the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) which contains three constructs to predict intentions of a certain behavior, namely attitude, social norm and perceived control. Additionally, it explored whether prevention education may exert an influence on drug use intention. A survey was conducted among college students from 20 universities in Beijing with a self-report questionnaire. A total of 1,425 valid questionnaires were collected. The results show that only 2.3% of the respondents reported they had intentions of using illegal drugs. Other main findings include that attitudes (measured by knowledge on drugs and harm perception) is a significant protective factor of college students’ drug use intention, while social norms (measured by invitation of others) and perceived control (weighted by visibility of drugs on campus) are the risk factors. The usability of the TPB has been generally testified in this paper, whereas the result on several items showed different feedbacks than prior studies. The study reveals significant correlations between drug use intention and prevention programs of specific organizers and forms. Based on these findings, possible explanations and policy recommendations are provided.

Features of the School Environment That Moderate Adolescent Marijuana Use: An Application and Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior

This study assessed the moderating effects of school facilitating conditions (school opportunities for prosocial involvement, school commitment, academic grades, and truancy) on adolescent marijuana use within the context of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Utilizing a large statewide surveillance study of adolescent risk and protective factors (N = 217,276), Structural Equation Modeling was used to examine the extent to which TPB constructs (behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, control beliefs, and behavioral intention) predicted adolescent marijuana use. Results revealed the TPB model provided adequate fit to the data (χ 2(127) = 58,042, p < 0.01, CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.04), with strong and significant pathways in the directions expected. TPB constructs explained approximately 60% of the variance in intention and 34% of reported marijuana use over the past 30-days; revealing an unexplained intention-behavior gap. To explore this gap, we examined the role of school facilitating conditions on the relationship between intention and marijuana use. After controlling for related TPB constructs, moderation tests of this pathway revealed higher levels of school opportunities for prosocial involvement and school commitment significantly reduced the relationship between intention and marijuana use. Poor academic grades and higher levels of truancy strengthened the relationship between intention and marijuana use. These findings indicate school facilitating conditions may play an important role in adolescent decision-making regarding marijuana use. Greater attention to these conditions may address the intention-behavior gap and enhance the effectiveness of school-based drug prevention programming.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Psychoactive Substance Use Intervention for Children in Afghanistan: Differences Between Girls and Boys at Treatment Entry and in Response to Treatment.

Psychoactive substance use among children in Afghanistan is an issue of concern. Somewhere around 300,000 children in the country have been exposed to opioids that either parents directly provided to them or by passive exposure. Evidence-based and culturally appropriate drug prevention and treatment programs are needed for children and families. The goals of this study were to: (1) examine lifetime psychoactive substance use in girls and boys at treatment entry; and (2) examine differential changes in substance use during and following treatment between girls and boys. Children ages 10-17 years old entering residential treatment were administered the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test for Youth (ASSIST-Y) at pre- and post-treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Residential treatment was 45 days for children and 180 days for adolescents and consisted of a comprehensive psychosocial intervention that included education, life skills, individual and group counseling and, for older adolescents, vocational skills such as embroidery and tailoring. Girls and boys were significantly different regarding lifetime use of five substances at treatment entry, with girls less likely than boys to have used tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, and alcohol, and girls more likely than boys to have used sedatives. Differences between boys and girls were found for past-three-month use of four substances at treatment entry, with girls entering treatment with higher past-three-month use of opioids and sedatives, and boys with higher past-three-month use of tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol. Change over the course of treatment showed a general decline for both girls and boys in the use of these substances. Girls and boys in Afghanistan come to treatment with different substance use histories and differences in past-three-month use. Treatment of children for substance use problems must be sensitive to possible differences between girls and boys in substance use history.

Illicit drug use among college students: The role of social norms and risk perceptions

PurposeTo examine the prevalence and correlates of college student use of illicit substances including cocaine, designer drugs, and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and opioids, and to identify how different drug-related perceptions are related to past year use of these substances. MethodsData were analyzed from a cross-sectional anonymous web-based survey among a sample (n = 1345, 81% female) of students attending a mid-sized liberal arts college in the US. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess the relationships between substance-specific descriptive norms, injunctive norms, perceived availability, risk perceptions and past year use of cocaine, designer drugs, prescription stimulants, and opioids, adjusting for current marijuana use, alcohol dependence, sensation seeking, and sociodemographic factors. FindingsPast year use of illicit substances ranged from 6% for nonmedical prescription opioids to 21% for nonmedical prescription stimulants. The sociodemographic correlates past year substance use differed by substance type. Descriptive norms (perceptions of peer use) and perceived risk were not consistently related to use of these substances. Current marijuana use was the strongest correlate across substances, and both injunctive norms (perceptions of peer approval) and perceived availability were consistently related to use of each substance. ConclusionsFindings suggest that future college student drug prevention efforts should more directly target current marijuana users since they are most at risk of using other illicit substances. Additionally, findings indicate that injunctive norms may be an important consideration for education-focused drug prevention programs. However, findings should be interpreted in light of limitations of the sample, which is predominantly female.

Interviews with American Indian and Alaska Native People Who Inject Drugs.

This project gathered opinions, attitudes, and beliefs from American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people who inject drugs (PWID). The primary objective of this study was to build formative knowledge around AI/AN PWID to help define and develop health care services and strategies by better understanding existing services, barriers, and challenges to seeking care. A total of 32 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. AI/AN PWID reported a number of structural, social, and geographical barriers when trying to access health care. PWID communities critically need integrative health care service strategies and improved education about injection drug use (IDU), outreach, and prevention programs and resources. More low-barrier and streamlined access to needles should be coupled with other health care services for PWID. PWID are a key resource to help health care providers and community members correct misconceptions and better understand IDU.

Smoking among Slovak Schoolchildren. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Unplugged Programme

BACKGROUND: Health promotion in schools is a highly relevant means for reducing the high prevalence of smoking. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of smoking in the past 30 days among schoolchildren during the implementation of the Unplugged drug prevention programme. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: It was carried out as a cluster randomized controlled trial with five measurement points. The data was collected before the implementation of the programme (T1), immediately after its implementation (T2), and then three months (T3), 12 months (T4), and 18 months (T5) after its implementation. The effect of Unplugged was explored after adjusting for gender, baseline smoking, perceived parental knowledge, descriptive normative beliefs, and the perceived availability of cigarettes. SAMPLE: The sample included 1283 schoolchildren (M = 11.52; 46.8% boys) from 63 different schools. RESULTS: The results obtained suggest that the 30-day prevalence of smoking rose from 1.7% vs. 3.0% to 9.7% vs. 8.2% in the experimental vs. the control group over the 22 months. The effect of time on the prevalence of smoking was found to be significant and gender differences were seen to disappear during the period that was explored. Furthermore, a direct effect of Unplugged was found at T4 and the effect of the programme was found to be moderated by gender at T2 and at T4, showing a stronger effect for the girls. Partial indirect effects of Unplugged on smoking through changes in descriptive normative beliefs were found at T4 among the girls. Finally, the findings showed that better parental knowledge about the girls’ whereabouts was also important in preventing smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The findings obtained generally emphasize the necessity of a gender-specific approach when implementing prevention programmes, with particular attention being paid to the school classbased social system, as well as parental engagement in prevention efforts.