Preventing drug use among sexual-minority youths: findings from a tailored, web-based intervention.
OBJECTIVE
Rates of drug use among sexual-minority youths are disproportionately high. Yet, expressly designed prevention programs targeting this population are absent. This study developed and tested a web-based drug abuse prevention program for sexual-minority youths.


METHODS
A sample (N = 236) of sexual-minority youths was recruited via Facebook. Online, all youths completed pretests; youths randomly assigned to the intervention received a 3-session prevention program; and all youths completed posttest and 3-month follow-up measurements.


RESULTS
At 3-month follow-up and compared to youths in the control arm, intervention-arm youths reported less stress, reduced peer drug use, lower rates of past 30-day other drug use, and higher coping, problem solving, and drug-use refusal skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcome data suggest the potential of tailored intervention content to address sexual-minority youths' drug use rates and related risk factors. Moreover, study procedures lend support to the feasibility of using the Internet to recruit sexual-minority youths, collect data, and deliver intervention.
Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York. Electronic address: tms40@columbia.edu.
Traci Marie
TM
Schwinn
Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York.
Bridgette
B
Thom
Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York.
Steven Paul
SP
Schinke
Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York.
Jessica
J
Hopkins
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D066107:Social Skills; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Drug use; Facebook; Internet; LGBTQ; Prevention; Sexual-minority; Web-based