Substance Use: Digital Interventions to Prevent Substance Use among Adolescents

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Substance Use: Digital Interventions to Prevent Substance Use among Adolescents: Findings and Rationale Statement
• Corporate Authors:
  Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF)
• Description:
  Context: Youth substance use is associated with increased risk for behavioral and academic problems, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, being involved in or experiencing violence, injuries, and mental health symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2016). Preventing or delaying substance use initiation among youth (defined in this review as adolescents ages 10-17 years) reduces later risk for substance use, substance use disorders, and overdose (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2016).
  
  Substance use trends in the United States have changed in recent years. There have been increases in illegally-made fentanyl and the availability of other synthetic opioids, misuse of prescription drugs, popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping products, and changes in the legal and regulatory landscape for cannabis (Hoots et al. 2023).
  
  In 2023, patterns of substance use among adolescents varied by grade level and demographic characteristics. Approximately 22% of teens reported current use of alcohol, 17% marijuana, and 4% misuse of prescription opioids (CDC 2024). Three percent of 12th graders reported use of cigarettes and 22% reported vaping within the last 30 days (Miech el al. 2024). Rates of alcohol consumption increased from about 6% in eighth grade to nearly 24% by twelfth grade (Miech et al. 2024). Initiation rates for prescription opioid misuse were higher among females and those identifying as multiracial or “lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or another non-heterosexual identity” (LGBQ+) (CDC 2024).
  
  Prevention interventions delivered through digital devices have the potential to reduce barriers to accessing health promotion resources among adolescents (Rideout & Fox 2018; Villanti et al. 2017). Access to digital devices is widespread among teens, with 95% reporting they own smartphones and 90% having computers at home. Access rates were similar across sexes and racial/ethnic groups (Pew Research Center 2022). Digital interventions can be designed to reduce barriers to engagement by offering anonymity and a non-judgmental environment that may reduce stigma (Taylor & Luce 2003; Johansson et al. 2024; Monarque et al. 2023).
  
  When focused on substance use by adolescents, intervention prevention goals include reducing the initiation, prevalence, and frequency of use (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2016). Measures of change in each of these prevention outcomes can be influenced by the substances evaluated, the age of adolescents at baseline and follow-up, and background rates of initiation and use.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Cell Phone Computers Computers, Handheld Drug Overdose Early Intervention, Educational Internet-Based Intervention Mobile Applications Public Health Smartphone Substance-Related Disorders

  More +
• Keywords:
  Digital Devices Digital Interventions
• Series:
  CPSTF Finding and Rationale Statement
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/168647
• Publisher:
  Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Rights:
  Public Domain
• CIO:
  Office of Science (OS)
• Topic:
  Diseases and Conditions
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  17 pdf pages
• Citation:
  Suggested citation: The Community Preventive Service Task Force (CPSTF). Substance Use: Digital Interventions to Prevent Substance Use among Adolescents. The Community Guide [www.thecommunityguide.org]. The Community Preventive Service Task Force, Atlanta, Georgia, 30329. https://doi.org/10.15620/cdc/168647
• Collection(s):
  The Community Guide
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:43c2e6b9f858dc5f08d7606b1ca90b83de5b10786c8e53abc27cee8dd799c10b185cd19271e656b4736a29bcf4780b666fe45b8f61769f3ebca46a6ec95fb91d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/168647/cdc_168647_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 476.58 KB ]