Opioid use (OU) skyrockets as youth transition into young adulthood, indicating adolescence is a critical time for prevention.
A study published last year (2024) explored specific OU prevention needs and preferences of families in juvenile legal system programs: https://www.jsatjournal.com/article/S2949-8759(24)00182-6/fulltext
Participating adolescents and caregivers perceived several potential motivations for OU: mental health problems, relationships, life stressors, difficulty accessing preferred substances, and experimentation.
Though often unfamiliar with the symptoms, participants were eager to learn skills to identify and manage a suspected overdose.
The authors concluded that youth involved in a juvenile legal system diversion program and their caregivers were open to and eager for tailored opioid use prevention content to help them reduce risks.
The authors also stated that no OU prevention programs have been developed for youth in juvenile legal system diversion programs or their families.
The Opioid Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) program for adolescents is a good solution to the problem of a lack of opioid prevention for diversion programs.
The Opioid PPW program is an adaptation of the evidence-based InShape PPW program which in the latter case is designed to prevent non-medical opioid use while promoting healthy lifestyles habits strengthening prevention and mental health, including regular physical activity, healthy nutrition, sleep and stress control.
Content in the Opioid PPW program was created to address SAMHSA’s recommendations for opioid misuse prevention, and includes messages addressing:
1. Defining what misusing prescription opioids means
2. Identifying problems with misusing opioids
3. Signs of an overdose
4. Treating and reversing the effects of an opioid overdose
5. Medication assisted treatment
6. Setting goals to improve wellness
In addition, the Opioid PPW program can be easily tailored by replacing the program’s PowerPoint slide images or adding additional content to meet specific youth population or setting needs.
In conclusion, adolescents and caregivers in juvenile legal system diversion programs need opioid prevention programs and the Opioid Prevention Plus Wellness intervention fits the demand for an evidence-based solution allowing easy tailoring.
Learn more about the Opioid PPW program today: https://preventionpluswellness.com/products/evidence-based-opioid-prevention-plus-wellness