The Evaluation of Proximity Interventions: A Pilot Study

Although in recent years substance addiction prevention programs and practices have increased, the majority of cases for these activities, in particular proximity interventions, lack the implementation of adequate assessment processes. This is also due to the absence of evaluation procedures and shared theoretical reference models. This study constitutes the first step of a larger research project aimed at assessing the effects of proximity interventions. In particular, the study describes the relationship among the frequency of substance intake or implementation of problem behaviour, stage of change as well as factors of vulnerability and protection. The study also demonstrates that the evaluation system adopted is able to detect the differences between various periods of change of course in which the frequency of problematic behaviour assumes significance in relation to psychological variables and context.