Early interventions can decrease drug use in young women

Science Spotlight

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A NIDA-funded study shows that adolescent girls who were involved in the juvenile justice system and participated in Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) showed decreased drug use over a two-year period in young adulthood. MTFC is a family-focused prevention program to encourage healthy behaviors in at-risk teens within the foster care system.

The results also show that participation in MTFC reduced the influence of partner drug use which was significantly associated with the young women’s concurrent drug use.

For a copy of the study abstract (published online February 20), go to:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jora.12077/abstract.

For information on drug abuse prevention, go to:
www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/prevention.

For more information, contact the NIDA press office at media@nida.nih.gov or 301-443-6245.