Long-term Effects of Universal Preventive Interventions on Methamphetamine Use Among Adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on methamphetamine use by adolescents in the general population during their late high school years. DESIGN: Two randomized, controlled prevention trials. SETTING: Public schools in the Midwest from 1993 to 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Study 1 began with 667 sixth grade students from 33 rural public schools; the follow-up included 457 students. Study 2 began with 679 seventh grade students from 36 rural public schools; the follow-up assessment included 597 students. INTERVENTIONS: In study 1, schools were assigned to the Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP), Preparing for the Drug Free Years, or a control condition. In study 2, schools were assigned to a revised ISFP (SFP 10-14) plus Life Skills Training (SPF 10-14 + LST), LST alone, or a control condition. RESULTS: Self-reports of lifetime and past-year methamphetamine use were collected at 6(1/2) years past baseline (study 1) and at 4(1/2) and 5(1/2) years past baseline (study 2). In study 1, the ISFP past-year rate was 0.0% compared with 3.2% in the control condition (P = .04). In study 2, SFP 10-14 + LST showed significant effects on lifetime and past-year use at the 4(1/2) year follow-up (eg, 0.5% lifetime use in the intervention condition vs 5.2% in the control condition, P = .006); both SFP 10-14 + LST and LST alone had significant lifetime use effects at the 5(1/2) year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Brief universal interventions have potential for public health impact by reducing methamphetamine use among adolescents.