Developing a Positive Approach to Substance Use Prevention in North American Indian Adolescents
University of Rhode Island
Summary
The overall objective of this project is to develop and obtain preliminary data on acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of Native PATHS. This work is guided by the stage model guidelines for treatment development and adaptation 25. Stage 1a will occur in two sequential steps. First, the investigators will recruit youth who are in 5th - 8th grade and their family members (N=24, 12 youth, 12 adults 18+) to participate in three talking circle sessions to obtain feedback on the cultural adaptation and implementation of the treatment. Next, the investigators will conduct an open label pilot (N=9). Youth and their family members, (up to 3 per youth) will provide qualitative and quantitative feedback after each session. In Stage 1b, 60 youth will participate in a pilot randomized controlled trial, testing the efficacy of the newly created program (n=30) against a wait list control (WLC) condition (n=30). Ultimately, this program of research is expected to result in a well-specified, efficacious prevention program that could be readily disseminated and generalizable to other Indigenous populations with minimal adaptation.
Description
Alcohol is one of the primary determinants of health disparity among many Indigenous populations with rates of alcohol-attributable mortality substantially higher than for Whites (73.8 per 100,000 vs. 27.5), and therefore, is a key threat to optimal health and well-being to Indigenous youth. Indigenous youth living in both the US and Canada tend to begin using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) at earlier ages than most other ethnic/racial groups, and tend to move more quickly to regular use, resulting in earlier onset of ATOD disorders. Despite the severity of the problem, there continu…