STAGE 5. Defining the action plan

What steps should be completed?

Step 1: Specify intervention actions

PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL VULNERABILITIES*

Some personality factors, such as sensation-seeking, impulsiveness, and a tendency to experience anxiety or hopelessness, are associated with an increased risk of developing a drug addiction. Therefore, indicated prevention is required to ensure that children and (pre)adolescents with these personality traits can handle the emotions caused by them correctly, preventing the negative coping strategies, such as the use of alcoholic beverages. 

This can improve individual intermediate variables related to subsequent substance abuse, such as self-control. It can also reduce the frequency of alcohol consumption and episodes of "excessive" consumption or binge-drinking, helping maintain these positive results at follow-up, up to two years later.

The following factors are associated with these types of interventions functioning well:

GOOD FUNCTIONING

Investigating the participant’s personality traits with approved instruments before applying the intervention. Teaching the skills to positively manage the emotions that arise from the participant’s personality traits. Being applied by professionals trained in the fields of psychology, teaching, etc. Being carried out in a few sessions (from two to five).

 

* Based on International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (UNODC):