Developing Empirically Based, Culturally Grounded Drug Prevention Interventions for Indigenous Youth Populations

Abstract

This article describes the relevance of a culturally grounded approach toward drug prevention development for indigenous youth populations. This approach builds drug prevention from the “ground up” (ie, from the values, beliefs, and worldviews of the youth that are the intended consumers of the program), and is contrasted with efforts that focus on adapting existing drug prevention interventions to fit the norms of different youth ethnocultural groups. The development of an empirically based drug prevention program focused on rural Native Hawaiian youth is described as a case example of culturally grounded drug prevention development for indigenous youth, and the impact of this effort on the validity of the intervention and on community engagement and investment in the development of the program are discussed. Finally, implications of this approach for behavioral health services and the development of an indigenous prevention science are discussed.

Culturally Grounded Prevention for Minority Youth Populations: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…The lack or absence of culturally grounded research with these populations suggests directions for future development in culturally grounded prevention programs within specific regions and ethnic groups. Culturally grounded prevention research may serve to anchor prevention programs within these specific contexts, providing a foundation for culturally and regionally specific program adaptations to related youth populations (Okamoto, Helm, et al, 2014). …”

“…Our study is relevant because we provide some scientific direction for the use of culturally grounded methods for specific populations and regions, specifically pointing to the populations and regions where cultural grounding might be indicated. Further, culturally grounded prevention interventions have the potential to anchor culturally focused prevention within certain regions and with certain populations, addressing health disparities for targeted youth populations, while also providing a conceptually shorter adaptational bridge for programs focused on related populations and regions (Okamoto, Helm, et al, 2014). …”

“…Research has suggested that prevention interventions that meaningfully incorporate the values and norms of targeted cultural groups promote both cultural "fit" and program effectiveness for those populations (Castro, Barrera, & Martinez, 2004; Okamoto, Helm, et al, 2014). While social and behavioral intervention research has largely endorsed the value of cultural specificity, it has also described multiple methods by which culture can be infused into prevention curricula (Okamoto, Kulis, Marsiglia, Holleran Steiker, & Dustman, 2014; Resnicow, Soler, Braithwaite, Ahluwalia, & Butler, 2000).…”

Adaptation culturelle d’un programme de prévention universel des dépendances pour les enfants autochtones innus

“…15, no 2, octobre 2016 Ainsi, pour les Autochtones, certains auteurs croient qu'il est préférable de développer entièrement le contenu des programmes de prévention tout en consultant des acteurs-clés afin qu'ils soient spécifiquement adaptés à leur culture (Okamoto et al, 2014). Cette façon de faire est toutefois onéreuse en terme de temps et de ressources financières (Okamoto et al, 2014).…”

“…15, no 2, octobre 2016 Ainsi, pour les Autochtones, certains auteurs croient qu'il est préférable de développer entièrement le contenu des programmes de prévention tout en consultant des acteurs-clés afin qu'ils soient spécifiquement adaptés à leur culture (Okamoto et al, 2014). Cette façon de faire est toutefois onéreuse en terme de temps et de ressources financières (Okamoto et al, 2014). C'est pourquoi d'autres auteurs militent plutôt en faveur de l'adaptation des programmes universels prometteurs ou probants, en impliquant des acteurs-clés en provenance des milieux autochtones (Holleran Steiker et al, 2008 ;Okamoto, Helm, McClain et Dinson, 2012).…”