2015 · Study · English
Effects of Communities That Care on Males’ and Females’ Drug Use and Delinquency 9 Years After Baseline in a Community-Randomized Trial
Oesterle, S., Hawkins, J. D., Kuklinski, M. R., Fagan, A. A., Fleming, C., Rhew, I. C., Brown, E. C., Abbott, R. D., & Catalano, R. F.
Oesterle, S., Hawkins, J. D., Kuklinski, M. R., Fagan, A. A., Fleming, C., Rhew, I. C., Brown, E. C., Abbott, R. D., & Catalano, R. F. (2015). Effects of Communities That Care on Males’ and Females’ Drug Use and Delinquency 9 Years After Baseline in a Community-Randomized Trial. American Journal of Community Psychology, 56(3-4), 217–228. doi.org/10.1007/s10464-015-9749-4
Summary
Nine-year follow-up of the CTC trial in the American Journal of Community Psychology, examining sustained effects by gender at age 19. Of the living panel, 91% (n = 3,986) responded; outcomes were lifetime and current substance use and delinquency (primary) and substance use disorders, major depression, suicidality, educational attainment and sexual risk behaviour (secondary). CTC had a significant overall effect across lifetime measures of the primary outcomes for males but not for females or the full sample. In the full sample, lifetime abstinence from delinquency was still significantly higher in CTC communities (adjusted risk ratio 1.16), and males in CTC communities continued to show greater lifetime abstinence from smoking (ARR 1.22). There was no sustained effect on current use or delinquency and no improvement in any secondary outcome for either gender. The authors advise communities to extend prevention planning into the high-school years if effects are to hold for both sexes – a result European coalitions should quote in full.