Oregon Research Institute

Early Family Prevention of Adolescent Alcohol Drug Use and Psychopathology

In this multi-site study, investigators examined the efficacy of a family-based preventive intervention which was originally delivered when the children were age 2.

Details

The study of antisocial behavior and substance use among adolescents is important because of the direct cost of such behavior to society not only in terms of damaged property and disruption of normal patterns of living, but also because of the difficulty of treating delinquent youth, and the potential emergence of later adult criminality and other serious disorders such as substance abuse.

This longitudinal study follows children and families into adolescence. Researchers are examining the degree to which periodic, tailored, and adaptive interventions delivered to caregivers of children from toddlerhood to school entry impact alcohol and drug use, high-risk sexual behavior, and other types of problem behavior. Knowledge gained from this program of research will inform policy guidelines regarding the wisdom of linking early childhood interventions with outcomes into adolescence.

This project was a subaward with Arizona State University from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). Dr. Erika Westling assumed the role of Principal Investigator after Dr. Dishion's passing in 2018.