Widening the Disparity Gap: Differences in Outcomes for Racial and Ethnic Groups in Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Programming

Abstract

This study examined racial and ethnic differences in the outcomes of a universal evidence-based program targeted to children and adolescents. Using data collected in 2015 and 2016 from the Alcohol: True Stories Hosted by Matt Damon program (N = 925), the study found the outcome of perceptions on risk of harm from alcohol use significantly different between the group of White respondents and the group of non-White respondents, and between the group of Hispanic respondents and the group of non-Hispanic respondents. Program effectiveness was found only among White and non-Hispanic respondents, widening the already existing gap between these populations.

Keywords:

• cultural adaptation
• racial and ethnic group differences
• substance abuse
• universal prevention program

Notes

1 The post-then-pre survey is a survey format in which questions for both pretest and posttest are asked at the same time after the program. It has been commonly utilized in evaluating program effects, especially when the logistics of program offerings makes it infeasible to administer a pretest before the program and posttest after the program separately and/or when program participants have limited knowledge prior to participating in a program that might cause a response shift bias, among others (Klatt & Taylor-Powell, 2005).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported whole or in part by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grant #5U79SP020162-04 through the Nebraska DHHS Division of Behavioral Health.