Substance Use: Family-based Intervention to Prevent Substance Use among Youth

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends family-based interventions to prevent substance use among youth. Evidence from the systematic review came from interventions delivered primarily to families of youth ages 10 to 14 years and showed reductions in both initiation and use of:

• Cannabis
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Illicit drugs
• Prescription drug (misuse)

Studies also reported reductions in sexual risk behaviors among youth and improvements in mental health symptoms and school-related outcomes.

CPSTF found that the economic benefits exceed the cost of family-based interventions to prevent substance use among youth.

CPSTF pointed out that further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for families of:

• American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian youth
• Youth who identify as a sexual or gender minority
• Youth ages 15 years and older

Further research is also needed to study the effectiveness of interventions to reduce the development of substance use disorders.