Preventing adolescent substance use disorder: a systematic review of community-based practices and social work implications

Background: Studies on substance use among adolescents have increased in social work literature. However, preventive interventions in this area are not well documented. Methods: The present article systematically reviews 17 studies conducted between January 2000 and May 2023 on community-based interventions to prevent substance use disorders among adolescents. All the studied samples were under 18 and mostly between 10 to 14 years old. Results: Most of the interventions were at school and home and were done simultaneously with parents and teenagers. Fourteen studies showed the effectiveness of the programs. Conclusion: Overall, studies recommended developing community-based practices considering various populations, such as immigrant adolescents, to prevent adolescent substance use.