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Related Experiment Videos

Evidence-based prevention: characteristics, impact, and future direction.

Mary Ann Pentz1

  • 1University of Southern California, Institute for Prevention Research, Alhambra, California 91803, USA. pentz@usc.edu

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
|June 27, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Evidence-based prevention programs have contributed to declining adolescent drug use since 1997. Effective implementation requires understanding program characteristics and addressing local adaptation challenges.

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Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Adolescent Health
  • Substance Abuse Prevention

Background:

  • Adolescent drug use has declined since 1997, coinciding with the spread of evidence-based prevention strategies in U.S. schools.
  • Evidence-based prevention involves rigorously tested programs proven effective in modifying adolescent drug use behaviors and attitudes.
  • Funding increasingly mandates evidence-based strategies, yet local interpretations and adaptations vary widely.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize the characteristics and impact of evidence-based prevention strategies for adolescent drug use.
  • To discuss challenges in the adoption, implementation, and diffusion of these prevention programs.
  • To identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions, including action research models.

Main Methods:

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  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on evidence-based prevention.
  • Analysis of theoretical, process, and structural models in prevention.
  • Examination of content, settings, and delivery components of prevention programs.

Main Results:

  • Evidence-based prevention, guided by risk and protective factors, shows effectiveness in reducing adolescent drug use.
  • Variability in local implementation and adaptation can hinder the successful diffusion of evidence-based programs.
  • Gaps exist in translating research findings into effective community and school-based practices.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence-based prevention is a critical tool for reducing adolescent drug use, but successful implementation requires careful attention to fidelity and context.
  • Future research should focus on bridging the research-to-practice gap and exploring collaborative 'action research' models.
  • Community-researcher partnerships are essential for effective planning and feedback loops in prevention efforts.