Community-based participatory research to prevent substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in African-American adolescents.

Community-based participatory research to prevent substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in African-American adolescents. J Interprof Care. 2004;18(4):347-359 Authors: Marcus M, Walker T, Swint JM, Smith BP, Brown C, Busen N, Edwards T, Liehr P, Taylor W, Williams D, von Sternberg K Abstract Adolescence is a time for exploration and risk-taking; in today's urban environment, with the twin threats of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS, the stakes are particularly high. This paper describes a community-based participatory research project to design, implement, and evaluate a faith-based substance abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention program for African-American adolescents. A coalition of university-based investigators and African-American church member stakeholders collaborated on all aspects of Project BRIDGE, the 3-year intervention to reduce substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in African-American adolescents. Our results support the use of community-based participatory research to create desirable change in this setting. Adolescents who participated in Project BRIDGE reported significantly less marijuana and other drug use and more fear of AIDS than a comparison group. Project BRIDGE has been designated an official ministry of the church and the program has been extended to others in the larger metropolitan community. The church now has a well-trained volunteer staff. University faculty developed skills in negotiating with community-based settings. The coalitio...
Source: Journal of Interprofessional Care - Category: Health Management Tags: J Interprof Care Source Type: research