Engaging Youth in Substance Misuse Prevention within State Prevention Systems: Provider Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Substance Misuse Prevention
• Youth Engagement

Background:

• Engaging youth in substance misuse prevention planning and implementation can enhance program effectiveness.
• Existing state-level policies and systemic structures can impede practical youth engagement.
• Understanding these constraints is crucial for optimizing youth involvement in prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how youth can be effectively engaged in substance misuse prevention within state-level prevention systems.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to youth engagement in prevention efforts.
• To provide recommendations for improving youth engagement practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 13 prevention providers in North Carolina.
• Interviews were conducted via video call, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic and codebook approaches.
• Reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.

Main Results:

• Providers generally view youth engagement positively but often conflate "youth-targeted" with "youth-engaged" initiatives.
• State-level policies, including definitions and funding, significantly influence the implementation of youth engagement.
• Barriers and facilitators to youth engagement are shaped by systemic factors.

Conclusions:

• State prevention systems must clearly distinguish between prevention efforts targeting youth and those involving youth in planning and implementation.
• Defining desirable activities and youth roles is essential for meaningful engagement.
• Enhanced support, including training for youth and adult allies and knowledge-sharing opportunities, is needed for effective youth-engaged prevention.