Life Skills Training: A competence enhancement approach to tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse prevention.

Abstract

This chapter examines Life Skills Training (LST), a school-based preventive intervention designed to prevent adolescent substance use and abuse. LST targets key etiologic factors as described in a conceptual framework derived from social learning theory and problem behavior theory. The LST program consists of three major components: (a) a personal competence component that teaches self-management skills, (b) a social competence component that teaches an array of social skills, and (c) a drug resistance component that teaches health-related content, resistance skills, and pro-health attitudes and norms. LST has been extensively tested in a series of randomized trials and found effective in preventing the use/misuse of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other psychoactive drugs. Over 30 years of research shows that LST works with a wide range of students, cuts the use of psychoactive substances in half, and reduces other health-risk behaviors. Findings indicate that the program is effective when implemented under different delivery conditions, by different program providers, with different age groups, and with different populations. Follow-up studies have provide evidence of the long-term effectiveness of LST. Independent economic analysis indicates that LST produces cost

Mobile Phone Apps for Behavioral Interventions for At-Risk Drinkers in Australia: Literature Review

“…Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm is important for affected individuals and society at large [ 2 , 3 ]. Enhancing the delivery of interventions may reduce the adverse consequences of alcohol misuse [ 6 ]. The potential use of mobile phone apps in the delivery of behavioral interventions tailored for at-risk drinkers remains promising, but evidence to support their use is lacking in Australia.…”

“…The preferred approach for alcohol interventions in Australia has been to prevent the adverse consequences associated with alcohol consumption rather than banning drinking altogether [ 5 ]. Psychological interventions informed by the stages of change model [ 6 , 7 ], as well as therapeutic techniques from motivational interviewing [ 8 ], cognitive behavioral approaches [ 9 ], and self-management strategies [ 8 , 10 ], hold promise to change problematic behaviors [ 7 , 11 ] and address adverse consequences related to drinking [ 12 ].…”

“…In recent decades, the advent of mobile phone technology has transformed the mode of delivery of psychological treatment [ 13 ]. Through promotion of the accessibility of interventions via mobile phone apps, alcohol dependence interventions may be enhanced and the adverse consequences of risky drinking may be reduced [ 6 ]. The demand for electronic health apps across Australia and the world is mirroring larger societal trends wherein consumer acceptance of technology has grown [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Perspectives on Modifying Attentional Biases Amongst Individuals with Tobacco Use Disorder Using Technology: A Review

“…Psychosocial treatment involves behavioural support at individual and group levels [2]. Psychological interventions informed by the stages of change model [3,4], as well as therapeutic techniques from motivational interviewing [5], cognitive behavioural approaches [6], and self-management strategies [5], hold promise to change problematic behaviours [4,7]. Regulatory changes that are in place include having graphic pack warnings on tobacco products, limiting tobacco advertisements, as well as increasing taxes on tobacco products [1].…”

“…Attentional biases are unconscious processes whereby individuals with tobacco use disorder will focus automatically on smoking-related cues in their environment [9]. Although these processes influence behaviours, they have not been the targets of most common psychosocial interventions [3,4,5,7]. In addition to the conventional psychosocial interventions mentioned, understanding of attentional biases in smoking could inform effective and innovative strategies that target these automatic processes.…”