TY - JOUR
T1 - Can intersectoral interventions reduce substance use in adolescence?
T2 - Evidence from a multicentre randomized controlled study
AU - Valente de Almeida, Sara
AU - Correa, Rafael
AU - Gonçalves, Judite
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Valente de Almeida, Correa and Gonçalves.
PY - 2022/8/26
Y1 - 2022/8/26
N2 - Objectives: We measure the impacts of an intersectoral intervention tackling adolescent substance use implemented between 2017 and 2019 in a tri-border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Methods: The intervention involved 23 institutions from different sectors and 880 adolescents, equally split between randomly selected treatment and control classes across institutions. Treatment group students were involved in the co-development of activities to tackle substance use within their institutions. Both treatment and control group students benefited from the activities developed and implemented from the second year of the intervention. We use difference-in-differences models to measure the impacts of participation in the co-development of the activities on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption. Results: Adolescents involved in the co-development of activities are 8 pp less likely to consume tobacco and cannabis, and 13 pp less likely to consume alcohol (p (Formula presented.) 0.01), compared to those who only participate in the activities. Among cannabis users, frequent consumption is also reduced by the intervention. Peer frequency of consumption is strongly associated with individual consumption. Conclusion: Co-development of activities by the subjects themselves can be key to decreasing substance use in this very crucial stage of life, especially if the institutions and the implementers are familiar with the area and subjects of the intervention.
AB - Objectives: We measure the impacts of an intersectoral intervention tackling adolescent substance use implemented between 2017 and 2019 in a tri-border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Methods: The intervention involved 23 institutions from different sectors and 880 adolescents, equally split between randomly selected treatment and control classes across institutions. Treatment group students were involved in the co-development of activities to tackle substance use within their institutions. Both treatment and control group students benefited from the activities developed and implemented from the second year of the intervention. We use difference-in-differences models to measure the impacts of participation in the co-development of the activities on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption. Results: Adolescents involved in the co-development of activities are 8 pp less likely to consume tobacco and cannabis, and 13 pp less likely to consume alcohol (p (Formula presented.) 0.01), compared to those who only participate in the activities. Among cannabis users, frequent consumption is also reduced by the intervention. Peer frequency of consumption is strongly associated with individual consumption. Conclusion: Co-development of activities by the subjects themselves can be key to decreasing substance use in this very crucial stage of life, especially if the institutions and the implementers are familiar with the area and subjects of the intervention.
KW - adolescent behavior
KW - adolescent health
KW - interdisciplinary science
KW - LMICs
KW - RCT
KW - substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137744176&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604677
DO - 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604677
M3 - Article
C2 - 36090843
AN - SCOPUS:85137744176
SN - 1661-8556
VL - 67
JO - International Journal of Public Health
JF - International Journal of Public Health
M1 - 1604677
ER -