Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
08:05
A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
Published on: March 23, 2022
Dissonance-Based Interventions for Substance Using Alternative High-School Youth
Lori Holleran Steiker1, Tara Powell
1University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work.
Practice (Birmingham, England)
|May 22, 2012
Summary
This study introduces a novel intervention using drug-abusing adolescents as "experts" to adapt prevention curricula. This dissonance-based approach aims to shift attitudes and behaviors before substance dependence develops.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- Adolescent substance abuse is a significant public health concern.
- Existing interventions may not engage youth not yet ready for formal treatment.
- Dissonance-based interventions (DBIs) show promise for behavioral change but are underutilized in adolescent substance abuse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe an innovative intervention for drug-abusing adolescents not ready for treatment.
- To utilize adolescents as "experts" in adapting prevention curricula for engagement and change.
- To explore the potential of dissonance-based change to prevent substance dependence.
Main Methods:
- A community-based design involving adolescents in adapting prevention materials.
- Leveraging the "Preventionist" role to create cognitive dissonance with personal substance use.
- Pilot research findings from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded project.
Main Results:
- Youth engaged in program adaptation actively discussed drug and alcohol use consequences.
- The "Preventionist" role appeared to induce dissonance, potentially shifting attitudes and behaviors.
- Pilot data suggests feasibility and engagement of the target population.
Conclusions:
- This dissonance-based intervention (DBI) offers a novel approach for early intervention in adolescent substance abuse.
- Engaging youth as "experts" can be an effective mechanism for driving behavioral change.
- Further research is warranted to validate this approach for preventing substance dependence.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:30Community Based Intervention
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...