Below are four new case studies highlighting the effects of various Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) programs, including the SPORT (Alcohol/Drug), Marijuana and Vaping (E-cigarette) PPW screening and brief interventions.
Case #1: SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness, Neptune, NJ.
SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness was implemented to 33 high school students virtually. Most were male (51.52%) and in the 11th grade (60.61%).
Pretest to posttest results are highlighted below.
- 52% increase in likelihood of getting physical activity most days/week
- 45% increase in likelihood of eating mostly healthy foods most days
- 21% increase in likelihood of taking action to reduce stress most days
- 66% increase in likelihood of avoiding illegal drug use
- 76% increase in perceived harmfulness of alcohol use
- 88% increase in perceived harmfulness of marijuana use
- 46% increase in perceived harmfulness of e-cigarette use
- 49% increase in perceived harmfulness of illegal drug use
Participating youth comments included, “It showed how to be more healthy and how to avoid drugs/alcohol,” “It helped me improve my health because they said a healthy lifestyle can improve my life including school” and “It motivated me to eat healthier and become more active.”
Case #2: Marijuana Prevention Plus Wellness, Eureka, MO.
Marijuana Prevention Plus Wellness was implemented to 29 middle school students virtually. Most were male (58.62%) and 12 years old or younger (51.72%).
Pretest to posttest results are highlighted below.
- 13% increase in likelihood of getting physical activity most days/week
- 33% increase in likelihood of getting 8 or more hours sleep each night
- 59% increase in likelihood of eating mostly healthy foods most days
- 94% increase in likelihood of taking action to reduce stress most days
- 88% increase in likelihood of avoiding using marijuana
- 31% increase in perceived harmfulness of marijuana use
- 37% increase in perceived harmfulness of illegal drug use
Participating youth comments included, “I liked how it made me more knowledgeable of how drugs, especially marijuana, can affect my health and development. It made me realize the steps I need to take to live a healthier lifestyle” and “The lesson motivated me to exercise more.”
Case #3: Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness, Caldwell, OH.
Vaping Prevention Plus Wellness was implemented to 165 6th and 9th grade students virtually in groups. Most were male (53.66%) and 6th graders (66.46%).
Pretest to posttest results are highlighted below.
- 97% increase in likelihood of getting physical activity most days/week
- 42% increase in likelihood of getting 8 or more hours sleep each night
- 7% increase in likelihood of eating mostly healthy foods most days
- 84% increase in perceived harmfulness of marijuana use
- 50% increase in perceived harmfulness of e-cigarette use
Participating youth comments included, “I would never ever use e-cigarettes,” “I now have a health goal” and “It made me realize that there is more to look forward to in life and not to worry about doing all the things that other kids do that I have to be my own individual person.”
Case #4: SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness, Auburn, NY.
SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness was implemented to 102 middle school students in person in groups. Most were male (55.88%) and 12 years old or younger (94.12%).
Pretest to posttest results are highlighted below.
- 57% increase in likelihood of getting physical activity most days/week
- 14% increase in likelihood of getting 8 or more hours sleep each night
- 84% increase in likelihood of eating mostly healthy foods most days
- 28 increase in perceived harmfulness of alcohol use
Participating youth comments included, “I have started eating breakfast,” “The thing I liked the best about the prevention lesson is it helped me develop healthier habits.” and “It showed the reason I am not going to smoke or do any drugs.”
Conclusion
Positive results were found in all four case studies, particularly on increasing intentions to engage in wellness behaviors and perceived harmfulness of substance use. Pretest to posttest improvements were found for each of the three types of Prevention Plus Wellness programs with the broadest effects found for the SPORT PPW program provided to high school adolescents and some of the largest effects found for the Marijuana and Vaping PPW programs presented virtually.