Prevention of Substance Use, 1st ed. 2019 Advances in Prevention Science Series

This volume provides a serious examination of substance use prevention research and practice as components of the continuum from health promotion through to prevention and health care in sub-groups and in the general population. Extensive background chapters provide portals into the evolution of the field and the cutting edge research being conducted on the etiology, epidemiology, and genetics of substance use and abuse. The global nature and health burden of substance use and abuse incorporates assessments of the serious problems related to the prevention of legal substance use (i.e., alcohol and tobacco) and how lessons learned in those arenas may apply to the prevention of illicit substance use.  Research and practice chapters detail a range of effective evidence-based programs, policies and practices and emerging prevention interventions from the literatures on the family and school contexts in addition to innovations involving mindfulness and the social media. Continued advancements in substance use prevention research, practice, training, and policy are projected.

Included among topics addressed are:

• Progression of substance use to abuse and substance use disorders
  
• The tobacco prevention experience: a model for substance use prevention?
  
• Policy interventions: intended and unintended influences on substance use
  
• Qualitative methods in the study of psychoactive substance use
  
• Use of media and social media in the prevention of substance use
  
• Supporting prevention science and prevention research internationally
  

The array of research accomplishments and real-world methods presented in Prevention of Substance Use merits the attention of a variety of researchers and practitioners, including public health professionals, health psychologists, and epidemiologists.

Part 1:  Introduction to Substance Use.- Substance Use and the Brain Across the Lifespan.- Epidemiology of Substance Use Internationally.- An Integrative Perspective on the Etiology of Substance Use       .- Genetics and Epigenetics of Substance Use.- Progression of Substance Use to Abuse and Substance Use Disorders.- The Tobacco Prevention Experience—A Model for Substance Use Prevention?.- Alcohol Marketing and Promotion.- Part 2:  Effective Prevention Interventions and Strategies for Substance Use.- Family Processes and Evidence-Based Prevention Interventions.- The School: A Setting for Evidence-Based Prevention.- Policy Interventions:  Intended and Unintended Influences on Substance Use.- Brief Interventions as Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies.- ATOD Prevention in Diverse Communities—Research and Receptivity.- Part 3:  Methodological Challenges.- Qualitative Methods in the study of Psychoactive Substance Use.- Monitoring Trends-Use of Local Data.- The Importance of Mediational Analysis.- Sub-Group Analysis: “What Works Best For Whom and Why?”.- Adaptive Intervention Designs in Substance Use Prevention.- Ethical Issues in Substance Use Prevention Research.- Part 4:  Emerging Areas.- Creating Persuasive Substance Use Prevention Messages: The EQUIP Model.- Use of Media and Social Media in the Prevention of Substance Use.- A Role for Mindfulness and Mindfulness Training in Substance Use Prevention.- Part 5:  Future Challenges.- Microtrials and Idiographic Research.- Dissemination of Evidence-Based Prevention Interventions and Policies.- Supporting Prevention Science and Prevention Research Internationally.- The Prevention Specialist Workforce.- Prevention Systems: Structure and challenges-Europe as an Example.

Zili Sloboda, Sc.D., President, Applied Prevention Science, Inc. was trained in medical sociology at New York University and in mental health and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.  The majority of her research has been related to the delivery of health-related services to youth and adults and epidemiology. She was a founder of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) in both the United States and Europe and is well-published in the area of drug abuse epidemiology and substance use prevention.  Her major books include the Handbook of Drug Abuse Prevention, the Epidemiology of Drug Abuse, and, Defining Prevention Science.  She has a long standing commitment to the dissemination of evidence-based programming and the advancement of Translation I and II research through work with SPR and with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to develop international standards for substance use prevention based on research evidence.  Her current work is focused on the international dissemination of the Universal Prevention Curriculum developed to build the capacity of prevention professionals worldwide to implement evidence-based prevention interventions and policies in their communities.

Provides the current status of substance use prevention research

Lays out a research agenda to guide both researchers and funding organizations

Excellent supplemental text for graduate courses related to prevention science