The Effects of Structured Activity Involvement on Opioid Misuse in Justice-Involved Adolescents
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Mentor Information
Dr. Micah E. Johnson
Description
Adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities are less susceptible to misusing opioids. However, the relationship between different types of supervised prosocial community activities (i.e., structured activities) and their protective effect against opioid misuse among justice-involved adolescents (JIA) has yet to be tested. This study aimed to determine the association between participating in activities and their varying levels of protectiveness in a high-risk population for substance misuse based on the number and type of structured activities. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine a statewide dataset of 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT) intake assessment collected information on JIA demographics, structured activity involvement, and past 30-day opioid misuse via self-report. Compared to JIA with no activity involvement, JIA involved in a community/cultural group had 0.68 (<0.01) odds, hobby group/club had 0.77 (<0.05) odds, athletics had 0.56 (<0.001) odds, and JIA involved in religious groups had 0.80 (<0.01) odds of engaging in opioid misuse. Those involved in volunteer organizations had insignificant odds. JIA involved in two structured activities of any type had 0.66 (<0.001) odds of engaging in opioid misuse, while those involved in three had 0.63 (<0.001) odds. JIA involvement in a single structured activity has a protective effect against opioid misuse, dependent on the activity. Involvement in more than one of the structured activities is also protective. Community intervention efforts should work towards involving adolescents in at least one of these structured activities to help reduce the risk of opioid misuse.
The Effects of Structured Activity Involvement on Opioid Misuse in Justice-Involved Adolescents
Adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities are less susceptible to misusing opioids. However, the relationship between different types of supervised prosocial community activities (i.e., structured activities) and their protective effect against opioid misuse among justice-involved adolescents (JIA) has yet to be tested. This study aimed to determine the association between participating in activities and their varying levels of protectiveness in a high-risk population for substance misuse based on the number and type of structured activities. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine a statewide dataset of 79,960 JIA from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT) intake assessment collected information on JIA demographics, structured activity involvement, and past 30-day opioid misuse via self-report. Compared to JIA with no activity involvement, JIA involved in a community/cultural group had 0.68 (<0.01) odds, hobby group/club had 0.77 (<0.05) odds, athletics had 0.56 (<0.001) odds, and JIA involved in religious groups had 0.80 (<0.01) odds of engaging in opioid misuse. Those involved in volunteer organizations had insignificant odds. JIA involved in two structured activities of any type had 0.66 (<0.001) odds of engaging in opioid misuse, while those involved in three had 0.63 (<0.001) odds. JIA involvement in a single structured activity has a protective effect against opioid misuse, dependent on the activity. Involvement in more than one of the structured activities is also protective. Community intervention efforts should work towards involving adolescents in at least one of these structured activities to help reduce the risk of opioid misuse.
