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Parenting programmes for preventing tobacco, alcohol or drugs misuse in children <18: a systematic review

Jane Petrie1, Frances Bunn, Geraldine Byrne

  • 1Dacorum Primary Health Care Trust, Tring Clinic, Station Road, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5NF, UK.

Health Education Research
|July 22, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Parenting programs can effectively reduce or prevent substance use in children under 18. Programs emphasizing active parental involvement and skill development showed the most promise for preventing tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Child Psychology
  • Addiction Prevention

Background:

  • Substance abuse among children under 18 is a significant public health concern.
  • Parenting programs are increasingly explored as a preventative strategy.
  • Evidence on the effectiveness of parenting programs for preventing child substance use requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review controlled studies on parenting programs aimed at preventing tobacco, alcohol, or drug abuse in children.
  • To synthesize findings on the efficacy of these interventions.
  • To identify characteristics of effective parenting programs.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of controlled studies.
  • Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and SIGLE.
  • Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality.
  • Narrative synthesis due to study heterogeneity.

Main Results:

  • Twenty studies met inclusion criteria.
  • Statistically significant reductions in self-reported alcohol use were found in 6/14 studies, drug use in 5/9, and tobacco use in 9/13.
  • Three interventions reported increased substance use.
  • Programs emphasizing active parental involvement and skill development (social competence, self-regulation) were most effective.

Conclusions:

  • Parenting programs demonstrate potential effectiveness in reducing or preventing substance use in minors.
  • Interventions focusing on parental involvement and skill-building appear most beneficial.
  • Further research is needed on change processes and long-term effectiveness.

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