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Five-Year Outcomes of a School-Based Personality-Focused Prevention Program on Adolescent Substance Use Disorder: A
Patricia Conrod1, Sherry H Stewart1, Jean Seguin1
1Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal (Conrod, Seguin, Lynch); CHU Sainte-Justine Mother-Child University Hospital, Montreal (Conrod, Seguin, Masse, Spinney, Lynch); Department of Psychiatry and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (Stewart); Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, McGill University, Montreal (Pihl); School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal (Masse).
A personality-targeted prevention program significantly reduced the annual increase in substance use disorders (SUDs) among adolescents over five years. This intervention shows promise in protecting against longer-term SUD development.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Research
- Adolescent Psychology
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Substance use disorders (SUDs) rates in Canada and the US exceed health targets.
- Adolescent substance misuse is often linked to specific personality traits.
- Early intervention is crucial for preventing long-term SUD development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the 5-year outcomes of a personality-targeted prevention program for adolescent substance misuse.
- To assess the impact of the PreVenture Program on the development of SUDs.
- To determine if personality-matched interventions can mitigate SUD risk.
Main Methods:
- Cluster randomized trial (Co-Venture) involving 31 high schools in Montreal.
- Annual health behavior surveys administered to 7th-grade students over 5 years.
- Brief (two-session) cognitive-behavioral intervention (PreVenture Program) targeting impulsivity, sensation seeking, anxiety sensitivity, or hopelessness.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed reduced growth in SUD rates compared to the control group (35% reduction in annual increase).
- Significant differences in SUD rates between groups emerged by the fourth and fifth year of assessment.
- No significant intervention effects were found for anxiety, depression, or overall mental health difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Personality-targeted interventions may offer protection against the longer-term development of substance use disorders.
- The PreVenture Program demonstrates potential as an effective strategy for adolescent SUD prevention.
- This study provides novel evidence for the long-term efficacy of personality-based prevention approaches.
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