SECTION ON ADOLESCENTS
Director: Ken Winters, Ph.D.
CURRENT PROJECTS (Continued)
Brief Intervention for Drug-Abusing Delinquents/Parents: Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., Richard Dembo, Ph.D., and Steven Belenko, Ph.D. This R21 study is addressing the treatment gap for substance abusing, juvenile offenders by modifying an existing brief intervention (BI) for application with at-risk juvenile offenders and their parents/caregivers. The study targets a context (juvenile justice setting; JJS) and a stage of drug use severity (mild or moderate drug abuse; MMDA) under-studied in the adolescent clinical treatment literature. After manual modification, the BI’s feasibility and acceptability will be evaluated by conducting a controlled pilot study with a randomized trial of 90 juvenile offenders at the Hillsborough County, FL Juvenile Arbitration Program, a juvenile diversion program. Three groups will be compared: 2-session adolescent only condition (BI-A); a 3-session condition with adolescent (2-session) and parent (1-session) (BI-AP); and an assessment only control condition. Evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of the BI will set the stage for future R01s to test in randomized clinical trials the efficacy and effectiveness of the BI for juvenile offenders in the community, and to develop strategies to implement diffusion and technology transfer to other jurisdictions. If successful, this efficient, relatively inexpensive intervention has enormous potential for reducing risks for escalating drug abuse and delinquency among delinquents, who currently receive few, if any, substance abuse services.
Brief Intervention for Drug Use and HIV/STD Prevention Among Truants: Richard Dembo, Ph.D., Ken C. Winters, Ph.D., and Steven Belenko, Ph.D.In collaboration with Dr. Richard Dembo of the University of South Florida, this NIDA-funded project is studying the effects of a Brief Intervention for truant youths with mild to moderate substance abuse problems. Effective interventions to reduce youth drug use and improve relationships with parents/guardians are needed to reduce the risk of youthful clients moving into serious drug use and delinquency patterns. The project team is evaluating the efficacy of a manualized BI among drug-involved truant youths in this Stage 2 randomized clinical trial, comparing (1) a 2-session youth only condition (BI-Y), (2) a 3-session youth (2-session) and parent (1-session) condition (BI-YP), and (3) a standard truancy services (STS) condition. Effects on drug use, school performance and attitudes toward school are being assessed through 18 months follow-up (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months).
Alcohol Energy Drinks; Amelia Arria, Ph.D.Based on data presented by Amelia Arria, Ph.D., Mary Claire O’Brien, Ph.D., and other science experts, and concerns expressed by the National Association of Attorneys Generals, Food and Drug Administration directs manufacturers of caffeinated alcohol drinks to demonstrate product safety. Read Announcement.
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