Mailed Family Kits Helped Rural and Native Teens Resist Drugs and Build Goals

A program that gets families involved in teen substance use prevention is successfully altering substance use norms in rural and Native American communities.

Connect for Prevention is a collaboration between researchers at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health. The initiative uses community-tailored, in-school and at-home programs to curb teen alcohol and drug use in rural Oklahoma. Previous studies have shown that these programs successfully reduce alcohol and cannabis use, prescription opioid misuse, and binge drinking in teens.

A recent study published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Use found that Connect Kits for Family Action, the at-home program that teens complete with their family members, influenced important factors tied to teen substance use.

Key Takeaways

After participating in the Connect Kits for Family Action program, teens:

• Were more aware of parental and caregiver disapproval of drug and alcohol use.
• Felt more able to refuse drugs and alcohol.
• Were more likely to disapprove of alcohol and cannabis use, and their harms.
• Placed more importance on educational goals.
• Had more confidence in their future success and career goals.

Why This Matters

The results show the importance of community-driven programs for preventing teen substance use, and the importance of family involvement. 

“Parents and other caregivers play an essential role in helping teens navigate challenges and opportunities,” says Kelli Komro, PhD, professor of behavioral, social, and health education sciences and the study’s lead author. “Our goal was to honor and support the central role of families for rural and Indigenous communities by providing useful tools for families.”

She adds, “Connect Kits for Family Action engaged families to be informed, stay connected, build skills, resist drugs, and support educational and career goals. We are proud of the success of the kits, and hope other families find them useful.”