A Psychosocial Empowerment Program to Reduce High-Risk Behaviors in Adolescent Girls with Substance Use Disorders: A Mixed-Methods Protocol Study

Abstract

Background and objective: adolescent girls with substance use disorders are at risk of numerous psychosocial risks; tendency to high-risk behaviors, such as suicide, high-risk sexual behavior, and violence are among important consequences of substance use. Today, programs are designed with an empowerment approach, as important practical strategies for management of issues associated with health and social welfare. Thus, in this study, we intend to design a comprehensive psychosocial empowerment program with an approach of reducing high-risk behaviors in adolescent girls with substance use disorder. Methods: Using the Talbot and Verrinder model, this study will be designed in three steps. In the first step, the researcher will identify the experiences of adolescent girls with substance use disorder, as well as their psychosocial needs using a qualitative approach. Then, through a review of literature, the needs and strategies will be completed and enriched. Thereafter, using a Delphi technique, the relevant needs and strategies identified in previous stages will be prioritized. In the second step, the program's draft will be designed based on the results obtained from the previous step. The developed program includes introduction, goals, specific objectives, strategies associated with specific objectives separately. During the third phase, the content of the program will be evaluated by a panel of experts. The fourth, fifth and sixth steps of the model, which are dedicated to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program, can be implemented in the future as an interdisciplinary program with the participation of health and social welfare experts and related organizations. Conclusion: It is expected that, in the case of its effective implementation by social welfare and health organizations, the empowerment program would have the potential to have a considerable effect on reducing or controlling high-risk behaviors in adolescent girls with substance use disorder.