The efficacy of Familias Unidas on drug and alcohol outcomes for Hispanic delinquent youth: Main effects and interaction effects by parental stress and social support

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Drug and alcohol use disproportionately affect Hispanic youth. Despite these disparities, few empirically supported preventive interventions are available to ameliorate this public health concern among Hispanic youth. This study examined the effects of Familias Unidas, relative to Community Practice, in reducing past 90-day substance use, alcohol and marijuana dependence, and having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, this study explored whether Familias Unidas’ effects varied by environmental context, namely parental stress and social support for parents. METHODS A total of 242 delinquent Hispanic youth aged 12 – 17 years and their primary caregivers were randomized to either Familias Unidas or Community Practice and assessed at three time points. RESULTS Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing past 90-day substance use, illicit drug use, and in reducing the proportion of youth with an alcohol dependence diagnosis, relative to Community Practice. Results also showed a reduction in the proportion of youth who reported having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No differences between conditions were observed in past 90-day alcohol use or marijuana dependence. Intervention effects on illicit drug use and alcohol dependence varied by environmental context. For example, Familias Unidas was most efficacious for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and lower levels of social support. CONCLUSIONS Familias Unidas was efficacious in reducing some drug and alcohol related outcomes. The findings also support the concept of targeting family-based interventions, such as Familias Unidas, for adolescents with parents exhibiting high stress and low levels of social support.

Introduction to Special Issue

“…In addition, "Familias Unidas" (Prado et al, 2012) is a parent-centered group intervention for Latinos/as in the United States, which includes regular parent group meetings and includes individual family visits. The "Strengthening Families Program" (Kumpfer, 1998) is a set of lessons directed at parents, youth, and the family system with the general goal of building strong family ties, and it includes one lesson on substance use prevention.…”

Unleashing the Power of Prevention

“…These include Strengthening Families, a sevensession universal program for families with young adolescents (Spoth et al, 2009) and Guiding Good Choices, a five-session universal program for parents of children in middle school (Mason et al, 2007). The Familias Unidas program for Latino families reduced illicit drug use and alcohol dependence (Prado et al, 2012) as well as sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk behaviors (Prado et al, 2007). Universal and selective community-based preventive interventions also have reduced substance use among adolescents in controlled trials.…”

Family Functioning and Parent Support Trajectories and Substance Use and Misuse among Minority Urban Adolescents: A Latent Class Growth Analysis

“…Researchers have reported racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent substance use and misuse, which result in a myriad of health and social consequences that disproportionally affect racial/ethnic minority urban populations, including the risk of STIs, intentional and unintentional injury, physical and social development, and incarceration. Ecodevelopmental family promotive factors, including family functioning and parent support, have been shown to play an important role in preventing and reducing substance use and misuse among adolescents (Cordova, Huang, Arzon et al, 2011; Córdova, Huang, Garvey, Estrada, & Prado, 2014; Prado, Cordova et al, 2012). Yet, little is known about urban adolescent family functioning and parent support trajectories and their association with substance use and misuse, including past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use, and past 2-week binge drinking.…”