MedPath

Preventing Drug Abuse Among Hispanic Adolescents

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Drug Abuse
Interventions
Behavioral: Prevention Program
Registration Number
NCT02375516
Lead Sponsor
Columbia University
Brief Summary

The planned research aims to delay the onset of drug use and reduce harmful use and abuse among Hispanic youths. The culturally-tailored prevention program will be delivered to youths by computer. Over 5 years, the program will be developed and tested in a randomized clinical trial. The intervention program will include 10 initial sessions, followed by annual booster sessions. Outcome measurements will involve baseline, post-intervention, and three annual follow-up data collections.

The study's primary hypothesis is that rates of 30-day alcohol and drug use will be lower among participants assigned to receive the intervention. If proven to be efficacious, the program will be revised and disseminated nationally.

Detailed Description

America's largest ethnic minority group, Hispanics are also a youthful population: one-third of Hispanic Americans are less than 18 years old. Unfortunately, young Hispanic Americans are an at-risk population more likely than their majority culture peers to drop out of school, become involved in the criminal justice system, fall prey to violence, and face lifelong economic problems. Hispanic youths are also at risk for early drug use and subsequent harmful use and abuse. As early as eighth grade and relative to their Black and White peers, Hispanic adolescents report higher rates of most harmful substances. Drug use continues to pose problems for Hispanic youths throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
678
Inclusion Criteria
  • 12 to 15 years old
  • Hispanic ethnicity
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  • None
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Prevention ProgramPrevention ProgramYouths in the intervention-arm will interact online with the initial intervention program between pretest and posttest measurement occasions and will interact with booster sessions subsequent to 1- and 2-year follow-up measurement occasions.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in average number of drug abuse instancesBaseline, Post-intervention, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3

Measures will ask participants to report, for the past 30 days, the number of: drinks of alcohol consumed, cigarettes smoked, puffs of marijuana, and times they consumed five or more drinks during one drinking occasion. Participants will also report past 30-day use of: inhalants, ecstasy, club drugs, prescription drugs for recreational use, heroin, diet pills, and hallucinogens.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath