A Hybrid Program to Prevent Substance Use Risk Among Upper Elementary School Students Using a Positive Youth Development Approach
Christopher Williams
Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate a psychosocial school-based hybrid intervention which includes traditional classroom sessions and online e-learning modules to reduce risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse as part of a broader positive youth development substance use prevention model. Upper elementary schools (N=30) will be randomized to either an intervention group that will receive a hybrid intervention or a treatment-as-usual control group that will receive existing health education programming. At the end of the intervention period, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, both groups will be compared on changes in behaviors, norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription medication use. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: * Does the intervention lower risk of vaping and prescription drug misuse? * Does the intervention increase pro-health norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding vaping and prescription drug misuse? Participants will: * Attend 1 classroom session per week for 6 weeks (lecture, discussion, small group activities, skills practice). * Complete 1 e-learning module per week for 6 weeks (animated didactic content). * Students attending schools randomized to the control group will attend existing health education programming.
Description
This SBIR Fast-Track proposal is designed to address the urgent problems of vaping and prescription drug misuse (PDM) among youth in the U.S. There is a dearth of primary prevention programs for vaping and PDM that have demonstrated changes in behavior as part of a rigorously designed evaluation. Research shows that the age of onset for these behaviors is decreasing and rates are increasing among the youngest cohorts. While there are a number of substance use prevention programs, there are no evidence-based programs that focus on these problems among upper elementary school students from a pos…