CAHNRS > Human Development > Adolescent Health Promotion Lab > Youth Substance Use Prevention

Youth Substance Use Prevention

Adolescents are developmentally more vulnerable to risk behavior engagement. And the behaviors we experiment with and engage in during this stage are likely to remain with us into adulthood. This means the more we can encourage healthy behaviors now, the more likely they will persist later.

Key questions related to substance use prevention are:

How effective are evidence-based substance use prevention efforts in contexts of legalized cannabis?
How effective are youth participatory action research approaches for substance use prevention?
Is program delivery in an online setting as effective as in-person?

Behavioral health continuum from health promotion through recovery.

Related Projects

Adapting Strengthening Families Program 10-14 for a Context of Legalized Cannabis

In efforts funded by SAMHSA and USDA, we adapted Strengthening Families Program 10-14 (SFP 10-14) in two ways. One for implementation in a legalized cannabis context and another to deliver the program in a virtual format.

Available resources include:

A virtual toolkit for implementing SFP 10-14 online and publication of the virtual adaptation process and outcomes in the Global Implementation Research and Applications journal.
A toolkit and marketing plan for delivering SFP 10-14 + Cannabis, our cannabis adaptation of SFP 10-14.
An impact report for SFP 10-14 + Cannabis.

Image of an impact report titled Supporting Healthy Families in Washington State: Empowering Parent and Youth Conversations about Cannabis — Click on the image to access the impact report document.

Youth Engagement for Substance Use Prevention

Funded by SAMHSA and Washington State Health Care Authority, we implemented youth participatory action research (YPAR) projects in key communities across the state and provided training for prevention and other professionals for youth engagement. We have also provided trainings on youth engagement for Washington State SNAP-Ed and Arizona HealthZone.

You can see YPAR youth in action in the following media stories:

Teens lead prevention efforts surrounding rural opioid addiction
Fox28, Spokane, WA coverage
KHQ, Spokane, WA coverage
Clallam County 4-H page
Sequim Gazette coverage

Available resources include:

A Youth Engagement Resource Guide outlining types of youth engagement and examples.
An introductory webinar on YPAR.
An impact report for YPAR research findings.

Image of impact report titled Youth Advocacy to Address Opioid Use in Washington Communities. — Click on the image to access the impact report document.