Long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on methamphetamine use among adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on methamphetamine use by adolescents in the general population during their late high school years.


METHODS
Two randomized, controlled prevention trials.


METHODS
Public schools in the Midwest from 1993 to 2004.


METHODS
Study 1 began with 667 sixth grade students from 33 rural public schools; the follow-up included 457 students. Study 2 began with 679 seventh grade students from 36 rural public schools; the follow-up assessment included 597 students.


METHODS
In study 1, schools were assigned to the Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP), Preparing for the Drug Free Years, or a control condition. In study 2, schools were assigned to a revised ISFP (SFP 10-14) plus Life Skills Training (SPF 10-14 + LST), LST alone, or a control condition.


RESULTS
Self-reports of lifetime and past-year methamphetamine use were collected at 6(1/2) years past baseline (study 1) and at 4(1/2) and 5(1/2) years past baseline (study 2). In study 1, the ISFP past-year rate was 0.0% compared with 3.2% in the control condition (P = .04). In study 2, SFP 10-14 + LST showed significant effects on lifetime and past-year use at the 4(1/2) year follow-up (eg, 0.5% lifetime use in the intervention condition vs 5.2% in the control condition, P = .006); both SFP 10-14 + LST and LST alone had significant lifetime use effects at the 5(1/2) year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Brief universal interventions have potential for public health impact by reducing methamphetamine use among adolescents.
Spoth
Richard L
RL
Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, USA. rlspoth@iastate.edu
Clair
Scott
S
Shin
Chungyeol
C
Redmond
Cleve
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*
D008694:Methamphetamine