This program was for youth who were in 5th grade and 7th grade and their parents.

Parent-Targeted Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use Prevention (PTI), a family- and school-based program, was designed to reduce adolescent substance use by increasing parental monitoring.

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the PTI program did not find any significant differences in tobacco and alcohol use between intervention and control groups. In addition, the RCT did not find any differences between intervention and control groups over time in parenting behavior or in how well parents knew their children's friends.

The PTI program intended to strengthen drug refusal skills, promote healthy peer friendships, and enhance parent-child relationships. The program was delivered in conjunction with existing school-based prevention programs and targeted all students regardless of their current substance use. PTI presented information in three main sessions.

• Session 1: Parents and students participated in a discussion about drug and alcohol use. Students compiled a list of their 10 best friends, and researchers used these lists and a correlation matrix to create composite friend lists that parents were given. Students and parents created contact directories of the student's friends and those friends' parents. In addition, workbooks were provided for at-home activities.

• Session 2: Based on the composite friend lists from Session 1, small groups, called Friendship Circles, were formed. These groups consisted of parents whose children were likely to spend time with one another. A facilitator led active discussions with these groups on changes in adolescent behavior, manipulative behavior, rule development and enforcement, and general parenting tips.

• Session 3: Parents participated in their Friendship Circles and discussed alcohol use, access to alcohol, chaperoning and monitoring, and curfew-setting. Parents attempted to develop a consensus on these issues in their Friendship Circle.

PTI was evaluated in the early 1990s with a sample of 5th grade students and 7th grade students who were from two school districts in Los Angeles, California; however, it is unclear how extensively this program was implemented outside of the evaluation.

Training information for this program was not located.

This program is no longer available; however, considerations for implementing a similar program might include recruiting facilitators; obtaining parent, student, and school administrator buy-in and consent; and finding time to implement sessions.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing a program similar to PTI, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program consisted of three sessions, and time to implement each session varied.

Information on implementation costs was not located.

To move the PTI program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

This program is no longer available. However, you may also contact Dr. Deborah A. Cohen by phone 1-626-564-7705 or email Deborah.A.Cohen@kp.org

Cohen and Rice (1995), https://www.kp-scalresearch.org/investigator/deborah-a-cohen-md-mph/, and https://www.childtrends.org/programs/parent-targeted-intervention-for-adolescent-substance-use-prevention/ (This website no longer contains program information)