Selected Projects: Research and Evaluation

Internet Availability of Drugs of Abuse: Amelia Arria,, Ph.D. and David Festinger, Ph.D.
This study will obtain information directly from adolescents enrolled in drug treatment programs about their use of the Internet to purchase prescription drugs for nonmedical use. The study will involve the administration of a user-friendly web-based assessment to a large sample of adolescents (ages 12 - 17) receiving treatment in numerous programs across the country. The assessment will gather information on demographic characteristics, non-medical and illicit drug use and related problems, and experiences related to using the Internet where they sought to both learn information about drugs as well as purchase analgesics, tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulants for non-medical use. This study will be the first to obtain information directly from adolescents regarding Internet sources of drug supply. It is anticipated that evidence from this study may lead to more detailed studies of adolescents in representative samples of treatment programs and in schools and colleges. This information can then be used to help adolescents become more aware of potential risks of non-medical use of prescription drugs as well as inform them of the important need for medical supervision when taking prescription drugs. Moreover, this research can serve as the foundation for crafting policies and legislation to reduce the marketing and sale of prescription drugs without a prescription. The long-term goal of the research is to reduce the physical health problems and social consequences associated with the non-medical use of prescription drugs that have a risk for addiction.

Brief Intervention for Drug-Abusing Delinquents/Parents: Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.
This R21 study will address the treatment gap for substance abusing, juvenile offenders by modifying an existing brief intervention (BI) program for application with at-risk juvenile offenders and their parents/caregivers. The study targets a context (juvenile justice setting; JJS) and a stage of drug use severity (mild or moderate drug abuse; MMDA) under-studied in the adolescent clinical treatment literature. After manual modification, the BI’s feasibility and acceptability will be evaluated by conducting a controlled pilot study with a randomized trial of 90 juvenile offenders at the Hillsborough County, FL Juvenile Arbitration Program, a juvenile diversion program. Three groups will be compared: 2-session adolescent only condition (BI-A); a 3-session condition with adolescent (2-session) and parent (1-session) (BI-AP); and an assessment only control condition.

Evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of the BI will set the stage for future R01s to test in randomized clinical trials the efficacy and effectiveness of the BI for juvenile offenders in the community, and to develop strategies to implement diffusion and technology transfer to other jurisdictions. If successful, this efficient, relatively inexpensive intervention has enormous potential for reducing risks for escalating drug abuse and delinquency among delinquents, who currently receive few, if any, substance abuse services. View Related Projects from the Law and Ethics Research Section.

Selected Projects: Parent Outreach

A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Brain; Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.; Amelia Arria, Ph.D.
Multi-media and science based, this parent product developed by the Partnership for a Drug Free America (Partnership) with science from TRI explains adolescent brain processes and gives tips for creating (or re-creating) the essential talking connection between parents and teens. Read announcement or view product.

Time to Act! Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.; Amelia Arria, Ph.D.
The most recent science-based product from the Partnership and TRI, Time to Act! is a web-based helping tool for parents who know or suspect their children are drinking or taking drugs. Read announcement or view product.

Adolescent Brain Development; Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.
Emerging science shows that brain development is still in progress during adolescence, and that immature brain structures may place teenagers at elevated risk of substance abuse and arrested brain development. Read Report or View Presentation

Selected Projects: Policy Development