Family-Centered Program Reduces Substance Use Problems in Rural African-American Teens

NIDA-funded researchers have demonstrated that a family-centered program, the Strong African American Families-Teens, reduced substance use, conduct problems, and symptoms of depression among African-American adolescents in a geographically rural area by more than 30 percent across nearly two years.

The 10-hour program included separate caregiver and adolescent skill-building as well as combined sessions that allowed them to practice the skills they had learned. Caregivers were taught consistent use of monitoring and control, strategies for dealing with discrimination, establishment of clear expectations about adolescent substance use, and cooperative problem solving skills. Adolescents were taught the importance of following rules and strategies for attaining educational and occupational goals, among other skills. Because SAAF-T is a “manualized,” structured program, it can be readily disseminated to public health agencies and community organizations to help address the need for mental health and substance abuse programs for black teenagers in rural communities.

For more information and a copy of the article, visit http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/12/07/peds.2011-0623.abstract?sid=afe79983-5165-4081-9e6e-0f4a0562875b.