New Book Describes Workplace Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Young Adults

Newswise — RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—A new book edited by RTI International and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describes the adaptation and implementation of workplace substance abuse prevention programs intended for young adults for the Young Adults in the Workplace (YIW) initiative.

The YIW initiative is a program funded by SAMHSA to modify and evaluate evidence-based substance use prevention or early intervention programs tailored for young adults. The initiative includes six grant programs and a cross-site evaluation lead by researchers at RTI.

"Research shows that substance use peaks in young adulthood as youth age and encounter more life stressors," said Jeremy Bray, Ph.D., fellow in health economics at RTI and the book's lead editor. "These stressors are elevated when young adults enter the workforce."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2006, 44 percent of individuals age 16 to 19 and 75 percent of individuals age 20 to 24 participated in the labor force.

SAMHSA's National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by researchers at RTI, found that illicit drug use was highest among young adults. In 2008, 19.6 percent of young adults used illicit drugs in the past month, compared with 9.3 percent of youth age 12 to 17 and 5.9 percent of adults age 26 or older. These statistics support the need for workplace prevention efforts and for the YIW initiative.

The book, Young Adults in the Workplace: A Multisite Initiative of Substance Use Prevention Programs, provides the background and rationale for the program and details about the six YIW grantees and their partnering workplaces. It describes adaptations grantees made to the interventions for the target populations, the resulting programs, and process findings related to program implementation. The final chapter describes the design and methods of the cross-site evaluation.

The book is published by RTI Press and available for free download (http://www.rti.org/publications/rtipress.cfm?pid=16754).

About RTI InternationalRTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 2,800 provides research and technical expertise to governments and businesses in more than 40 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory and chemistry services. For more information, visit www.rti.org.