title: The efficacy of Familias Unidas on drug and alcohol outcomes for Hispanic delinquent youth: main effects and interaction effects by parental stress and social support.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug and alcohol use disproportionately affect Hispanic youth. Despite these disparities, few empirically supported preventive interventions are available to ameliorate this public health concern among Hispanic youth. This study examined the effects of Familias Unidas, relative to Community Practice, in reducing past 90-day substance use, alcohol and marijuana dependence, and having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, this study explored whether Familias Unidas' effects varied by environmental context, namely parental stress and social support for parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 242 delinquent Hispanic youth aged 12-17 years and their primary caregivers were randomized to either Familias Unidas or Community Practice and assessed at three time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing past 90-day substance use, illicit drug use, and in reducing the proportion of youth with an alcohol dependence diagnosis, relative to Community Practice. Results also showed a reduction in the proportion of youth who reported having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No differences between conditions were observed in past 90-day alcohol use or marijuana dependence. Intervention effects on illicit drug use and alcohol dependence varied by environmental context. For example, Familias Unidas was most efficacious for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and lower levels of social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing some drug and alcohol related outcomes. The findings also support the concept of targeting family-based interventions, such as Familias Unidas, for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and low levels of social support.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States. gprado@med.miami.edu
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Prado
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Cordova
authors: Shi
authors: S
authors: Huang
authors: Yannine
authors: Y
authors: Estrada
authors: Alexa
authors: A
authors: Rosen
authors: Guadalupe A
authors: GA
authors: Bacio
authors: Giselle
authors: G
authors: Leon Jimenez
authors: Hilda
authors: H
authors: Pantin
authors: C Hendricks
authors: CH
authors: Brown
authors: Maria-Rosa
authors: MR
authors: Velazquez
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Villamar
authors: Derek
authors: D
authors: Freitas
authors: Maria I
authors: MI
authors: Tapia
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: McCollister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome