M Lee Van Horn1, Abigail A Fagan2, J David Hawkins3, Sabrina Oesterle3. 1. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. Electronic address: vanhorn@sc.edu. 2. Department of Sociology, Criminology & Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 3. Social Development Research Group, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent substance use and delinquency are major public health problems. Although community-based prevention strategies have been recommended to produce population-level reductions in rates of substance use and delinquency, few models show evidence of effectiveness. PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of a community-based prevention system, Communities That Care (CTC), in reducing community rates of problem behaviors, particularly effects on specific profiles of adolescent substance use and delinquency in eighth- and tenth-graders. METHODS:Twenty-four communities were randomized to CTC intervention or control groups. Data were collected from 14,099 8th- and 10th-grade students in these communities using anonymous cross-sectional surveys in 2004 and 2010 and analyzed in 2012. Outcomes were four different profiles of self-reported substance use and delinquency in 8th grade and five profiles in 10th grade. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional 2010 data, there was no intervention effect on the probability of experimenting with substances or of substance use coupled with delinquent activities for either grade. However, tenth-graders in intervention communities were significantly less likely to be alcohol users than those in control communities (OR=0.69, CI=0.48, 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional population surveys showed evidence of CTC effects in reducing tenth-grade alcohol users but not experimenters. A community-wide reduction in adolescent alcohol use is important because alcohol is the most commonly used illicit substance during adolescence, and early initiation of alcohol use has been associated with alcohol-related disorders in adulthood. Failure to find hypothesized effects on experimenters qualifies these results.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent substance use and delinquency are major public health problems. Although community-based prevention strategies have been recommended to produce population-level reductions in rates of substance use and delinquency, few models show evidence of effectiveness. PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of a community-based prevention system, Communities That Care (CTC), in reducing community rates of problem behaviors, particularly effects on specific profiles of adolescent substance use and delinquency in eighth- and tenth-graders. METHODS: Twenty-four communities were randomized to CTC intervention or control groups. Data were collected from 14,099 8th- and 10th-grade students in these communities using anonymous cross-sectional surveys in 2004 and 2010 and analyzed in 2012. Outcomes were four different profiles of self-reported substance use and delinquency in 8th grade and five profiles in 10th grade. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional 2010 data, there was no intervention effect on the probability of experimenting with substances or of substance use coupled with delinquent activities for either grade. However, tenth-graders in intervention communities were significantly less likely to be alcohol users than those in control communities (OR=0.69, CI=0.48, 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional population surveys showed evidence of CTC effects in reducing tenth-grade alcohol users but not experimenters. A community-wide reduction in adolescent alcohol use is important because alcohol is the most commonly used illicit substance during adolescence, and early initiation of alcohol use has been associated with alcohol-related disorders in adulthood. Failure to find hypothesized effects on experimenters qualifies these results.
Authors: George C Patton; Carolyn Coffey; Susan M Sawyer; Russell M Viner; Dagmar M Haller; Krishna Bose; Theo Vos; Jane Ferguson; Colin D Mathers Journal: Lancet Date: 2009-09-12 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: J David Hawkins; Richard F Catalano; Michael W Arthur; Elizabeth Egan; Eric C Brown; Robert D Abbott; David M Murray Journal: Prev Sci Date: 2008-05-31
Authors: Isaac C Rhew; J David Hawkins; David M Murray; Abigail A Fagan; Sabrina Oesterle; Robert D Abbott; Richard F Catalano Journal: Prev Sci Date: 2016-02