A recent study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry reveals that brief cognitive behavioral interventions can significantly reduce substance use disorders (SUD) among teens by targeting key personality traits such as impulsivity, sensation seeking, hopelessness, and anxiety sensitivity. Conducted across 31 Canadian high schools and involving 3,800 students, the research, led by Dr. Patricia Conrod from the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine, found that interventions delivered in the 7th grade were linked to a lower risk of developing substance use disorders by the end of high school.
The study, which followed participants for five years, utilized advanced statistical methods to account for missing data, a common issue with repeated school-based assessments. Over the course of the study, the incidence of substance use disorder steadily increased, with around 10% of students screening positive by 11th grade. However, those who received the intervention in 7th grade showed a significantly lower rate of substance use disorder compared to their peers in control schools. The study confirmed with 95% confidence that the intervention reduced the risk of developing SUD in intervention schools. Depending on the year of follow-up and how missing data was handled, the intervention resulted in a 23% to 80% reduction in the odds of developing a substance use disorder compared to control schools.
The program, known as PreVenture, is already being implemented in schools across five Canadian provinces and twelve U.S. states. The intervention focuses on helping youth recognize and manage personality traits that can increase the risk of substance misuse. Through two 90-minute workshops, students explore their individual personality traits and are taught cognitive-behavioral strategies to cope with these traits in healthy ways. The aim is to help young people develop coping mechanisms that can protect them against the long-term risk of substance use disorders.
Dr. Conrod, a Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction at the Université de Montréal, explained that the study’s findings underscore the importance of early preventive measures. “North America is in the midst of an addiction crisis,” she said. “This study adds to a growing body of evidence in favor of upstream preventive mental health interventions as potential solutions to this public health crisis.”
The PreVenture program not only targets personality traits that may lead to substance use but also promotes healthy decision-making. According to Deb Chiodo, Director of Data Management and Evaluation at Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO), the program has been highly successful in various settings. “By prioritizing prevention, PreVenture supports environments for youth that foster healthy decision-making and reduces the likelihood of substance use,” she noted. “There isn’t any other program with the evidence base like PreVenture, and our hope is that more and more youth can participate and benefit from this program.”
Dr. Steve Mathias, Co-Executive Director of Foundry in British Columbia, highlighted the critical need for such interventions, especially given the growing substance use issues among young people. “The opportunity to implement and scale evidence-based substance use prevention programs is critical to decreasing the enormous impact of alcohol and substance use on the lives of young people,” he said. “PreVenture has shown that prevention programs are feasible and necessary if we want young people to live their best lives.”
With the success of this study, the PreVenture program could become an essential tool in combating substance use disorders in youth, providing an effective, evidence-based approach to prevention.
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