Can intersectoral interventions reduce substance use in adolescence? evidence from a multicentre randomized controlled study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
de Almeida, Sara Valente
Correa, Rafael
Goncalves, Judite
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives: We measure the impacts of an intersectoral intervention tackling adolescent substance use implemented between 2017 and 2019 in a tri-border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Methods: The intervention involved 23 institutions from different sectors and 880 adolescents, equally split between randomly selected treatment and control classes across institutions. Treatment group students were involved in the co-development of activities to tackle substance use within their institutions. Both treatment and control group students benefited from the activities developed and implemented from the second year of the intervention. We use difference-in-differences models to measure the impacts of participation in the co-development of the activities on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption.
Results: Adolescents involved in the co-development of activities are 8 pp less likely to consume tobacco and cannabis, and 13 pp less likely to consume alcohol (p<
0.01), compared to those who only participate in the activities. Among cannabis users, frequent consumption is also reduced by the intervention. Peer frequency of consumption is strongly associated with individual consumption.
Conclusion: Co-development of activities by the subjects themselves can be key to decreasing substance use in this very crucial stage of life, especially if the institutions and the implementers are familiar with the area and subjects of the intervention.
Methods: The intervention involved 23 institutions from different sectors and 880 adolescents, equally split between randomly selected treatment and control classes across institutions. Treatment group students were involved in the co-development of activities to tackle substance use within their institutions. Both treatment and control group students benefited from the activities developed and implemented from the second year of the intervention. We use difference-in-differences models to measure the impacts of participation in the co-development of the activities on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption.
Results: Adolescents involved in the co-development of activities are 8 pp less likely to consume tobacco and cannabis, and 13 pp less likely to consume alcohol (p<
0.01), compared to those who only participate in the activities. Among cannabis users, frequent consumption is also reduced by the intervention. Peer frequency of consumption is strongly associated with individual consumption.
Conclusion: Co-development of activities by the subjects themselves can be key to decreasing substance use in this very crucial stage of life, especially if the institutions and the implementers are familiar with the area and subjects of the intervention.
Date Issued
2022-08-26
Date Acceptance
2022-08-10
Citation
International Journal of Public Health, 2022, 67, pp.1-8
ISSN
0303-8408
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Start Page
1
End Page
8
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Public Health
Volume
67
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2022 Valente de Almeida, Correa and Gonçalves. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000852662700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
LMICs
adolescent health
substance use
adolescent behavior
RCT
interdisciplinary science
YOUNG-ADULTS
HEALTH
DISORDERS
ABUSE
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 1604677
Date Publish Online
2022-08-26