Substances, Adolescence (Meta-Analysis)

Prevention programs targeting alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs are often referred to as ATOD programs. Most formal, structured ATOD programs for adolescents are implemented in schools and most school-based programs target the entire population of students in a specific grade without singling out subpopulations based on risk factors. If relatively few students in the school are known to be “at-risk” of using or abusing substances, these interventions targeting the entire population are known as universal interventions. If most of the students in the schools are “at-risk” or if the programs target subpopulations within the schools possessing risk factors predictive of substance use or abuse (e.g., children of substance abusing parents), then the interventions are known as selective interventions. Programs like student assistance programs that often target drug involved but asymptomatic subpopulations are known as indicated interventions.