Substance abuse among adolescents continues at intolerably high levels. Research indicates that parents can provide a powerful, positive influence over their children through warm, authoritative family management; strong attachments; positive parental modeling; and less permissive attitudes. The evidence argues convincingly for prevention programs directed specifically at parents. The workplace is an underutilized resource for targeting parents. Although prevention programs for parents exist, very few consider the adolescent’s stage of development, and fewer still provide parents with opportunities for individual learning, behavior modeling, and vicarious learning using interactive, multi-media technology. Finally, few exist that provide these opportunities for parents at their convenience.

The objective of the research was to develop and test a web-based adolescent substance abuse prevention program for parents. The program is designed to raise parents' self-efficacy to make positive changes in their children's lives. This multimedia program helps increase parental skills in: 1) maintaining healthy communication in general and specifically talking to kids about substance use; 2) using positive and constructive family management styles; and 3) setting clear, consistent, and developmentally appropriate limits on adolescent behavior. Details on adolescent development and interactive sessions, separated into specific stages of adolescent development, are also included. In addition, the Parent Power program provides general information on adolescent substance use, specific information on drugs and their short- and long-term effects, and the signs and symptoms of substance use. Two additional program components include: 1) the Safety Zone, which provides information on other high risk behaviors and conditions such as sexual behavior, risky driving, violence, and depression; and 2) Parents and Teens Together, which provides on-line activities for parents and teens to do together. Parents can also find links other resources available on the Internet.

Stress, depression and other mental health disorders are prevalent, disabling conditions that have substantial effects on the health and productivity of the work force. Although effective approaches to the prevention and treatment of these problems are available, a large proportion of the work force – perhaps a majority of those afflicted – do not seek interventions for their problems, largely because of the stigma attached to the mental disorders, coupled with a lack of exposure to available interventions.

The goal of this project, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, is to develop and test an interactive, multi-media web-based stress and mood management program for the workplace. By presenting topics of depression, anxiety and substance abuse within a program of stress management – a relatively non-stigmatized topic – working adults can acquire the necessary awareness, skills and motivation to prevent or seek treatment for these costly disorders. In Phase I, a prototype stress and mood management program (focusing primarily on the Stress Management module) was developed. The prototype program was tested in focus groups of working adults, and interviews were conducted with human resource managers and workplace health professionals to assess the feasibility and commercial viability of the program. Phase II includes the full development and field test of the program.

The purpose of this project is to develop and test an innovative, web-based multimedia program aimed at working adults at risk for Type 2 diabetes and designed to reduce or ameliorate modifiable risk factors through health-related behavior change. The program, entitled, Turning Point, is based on a well-tested health behavior change model, which is firmly rooted in social learning and health behavior change theories.

Phase I includes the development of the final structure and content of the program and prototype testing with experts and focus groups drawn from the target audience. Phase II includes the completion of the program and a rigorous field-test with the target audience.

The objective of this project is to develop and test a multimedia program for parents designed to promote healthful child dietary and exercise practices and reduce children’s risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Phase I includes the development of the preliminary structure and content of the program, prototype development, and focus group testing with parents. Phase II involves the full development of the program and an evaluation of program effectiveness through a rigorous field test with parents.

The purpose of this project is to develop and test an innovative web-based multimedia program aimed at parents and designed to prevent mental health problems in youth. The program will incorporate interesting audio and visual segments and provide scientifically sound information that is accessible to parents from varying educational backgrounds. In Phase I, the final structure and content of the program were developed and a prototype was tested with focus groups of parents. Phase II includes the completion of the program modules and field testing the program with working parents in a pretest/posttest randomized design.

Results from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicate that in 2001 nearly 16 million Americans 12 years of age and older were current illicit drug users, over 45 million engaged in binge drinking in the previous month, and nearly 13 million were heavy alcohol drinkers. Chemical dependence, including nicotine, alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs, is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Medical professionals in primary care like family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and, in some cases, gynecology who routinely provide preventive health care and rely on routine screening to detect diseases and promote wellness are in a unique position to detect risky substance use and substance use disorders in their earliest stages. However, few medical professionals routinely perform substance use screening and interventions. Indeed, Healthy People 2000: National Health and Disease Objectives for Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug Problems specifically established a goal for the year 2000 to “Increase to at least 75 percent the proportion of primary care providers who screen for alcohol and other drug use problems. The American Medical Association currently recommends that physicians screen all patients for alcohol and other drug abuse and the American Nurses Association supports the role of professional nurses, in all settings, to assess for substance abuse problems.

Given the wide support for the screening of alcohol and other drug abuse in primary care settings, it is unusual to note that very little such screening is actually conducted. Indeed, research indicates that 41%-94% of primary care physicians fail to recognize substance abuse in their outpatient population. The lack of adequate training in the detection and treatment of substance use and the fact that substance use is generally considered a mental health problem and not a medical problem are two barriers to the routine assessment of substance use by primary care practitioners. The goal of this project is to create a technologically innovative, multifaceted, web-based training program for primary care physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners that will serve two purposes. First, the program will provide a comprehensive training course for nurses and physicians in which they can receive continuing education and continuing medical education credit. In addition, based on feedback from the usability tests, specific elements of the program will be available for physicians and nurses in practice. In Phase I, a prototype program, entitled Primary Care Connection, was developed and pilot tested (including a usability test) with physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners. In addition, ISA surveyed physicians and nurses regarding their screening practices and the barriers to substance use screening in primary care settings. Phase II includes the full program development and testing with groups of primary care professionals.

The purpose of the project is to develop and test an innovative web-based educational program designed to prevent prescription drug abuse among working women. The program contains important information on the safe use of medications with abuse potential and on alternatives to taking medications. Phase I includes the development and focus group testing of the prototype structure and Phase II involves the full development and field test of the program and preparation for marketing.

Phase I involves the preliminary structure and content development and pilot-testing with focus groups of college students drawn from two universities. Phase II involves full program development and rigorous field testing with college students as well as preparations for marketing.