A study published in JAMA Pediatrics (2021) examined how adolescents’ substance use and physical activity behaviors changed under stay-at-home orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this cohort study of adolescents in Northern California, the overall prevalence of e-cigarette, cannabis, or alcohol use did not meaningfully change with a statewide stay-at-home order, but physical activity declined considerably.
The authors concluded that while youth substance use prevention and cessation support should continue, enhanced efforts to increase physical activity are needed.
Combining substance use prevention and physical activity promotion within a single integrated intervention, such as those provided by Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW), increases intervention efficiency and potential breadth of program outcomes as compared to providing two separate programs.
Integrated programs like PPW also teach youth and young adults about how wellness-promoting behaviors like physical activity interact with and protect against risk behaviors such as substance use and vice versa.
Learn more about Prevention Plus Wellness programs: https://preventionpluswellness.com/collections/ppw-catalog
Read the entire research article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2779444