Engaging Youth in Substance Misuse Prevention within State Prevention Systems: Provider Perspectives

Abstract

Objective: Engaging youth in planning, developing, and implementing substance misuse prevention efforts can improve those efforts. However, specific local policies and systems constrain youth engagement practice. This study examines how to engage youth in substance misuse prevention within state prevention systems. Methods: In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with 13 prevention providers in the North Carolina prevention system were conducted via video call and transcribed and analyzed via thematic and codebook approaches. Procedures are reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Results: Providers viewed youth engagement favorably yet mostly did not differentiate between youth-targeted prevention initiatives and youth-engaged initiatives. Findings reveal how state-level decisions, such as definitions and funding policies, support and challenge how providers implement youth engagement. Conclusions: To encourage youth engagement, state prevention systems should clarify for providers the distinction between prevention efforts targeted to youth and those that engage youth in planning and implementing and define which activities are desirable and what the role of youth should be in the activities. Finally, prevention providers need support for youth-engaged approaches to prevention, specifically training for youth and adult allies and opportunities for knowledge-sharing.

Engaging youth as leaders and partners can improve substance use prevention: a call to action to support youth engagement practice and research

“…Within the field of substance use prevention, Youth Engagement (YE) can be thought of as an approach in which prevention organizations effectively engage youth as leaders or partners in planning, tailoring, implementing, and/or evaluating prevention programming [4]. There is a strong theoretical justification [5], real-world precedent [6], and evidence supporting [7][8][9][10] the practice of engaging youth as active co-constructors in community initiatives where youth are a central constituency.…”

“…Within the field of substance use prevention, Youth Engagement (YE) can be thought of as an approach in which prevention organizations effectively engage youth as leaders or partners in planning, tailoring, implementing, and/or evaluating prevention programming [4]. There is a strong theoretical justification [5], real-world precedent [6], and evidence supporting [7][8][9][10] the practice of engaging youth as active co-constructors in community initiatives where youth are a central constituency. We define youth broadly as those between the ages of 11-25, sometimes referred to as adolescents and young/ emerging adults [11,12] and we use the term "substance use" to refer to a broad array of substances that practitioners aim to prevent and to reduce associated harms for young people.…”

“…Studies suggest that youth engagement can increase the quality, responsiveness, and reach of community initiatives [9]. Many programs and organizations that partner with youth showcase examples of how youth involvement increases the quality and relevance of prevention programming [9,10,12]. Further, peer-led substance use prevention interventions have been found to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use [11] and raise community awareness of substance use and related solutions [9].…”

“…In order to move beyond articulating support for YE to living out that commitment, there is a need to train substance use prevention professionals in youth development and youth/adult partnerships. Despite general enthusiasm for youth engagement, translating this into dayto-day practice that fits within the competing priorities and the requirements and constraints of the substance use prevention funding landscape is challenging [10]. There is a paucity of training specifically for the nuance and messiness associated with "living out" youth-adult partnerships [24].…”