SafERteens
Problems addressed
Alcohol abuse
Interpersonal violence or injuries
Effectiveness

No Effect

.

.

.

.

.

No Effect

Want to know more about this classification? Check out our methodological manual.

Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Ambulatory - Social services centers
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a single-session therapy program for adolescents aged 14 to 18 years who are admitted to emergency healthcare units due to medical problems (illnesses and injuries). The objective is to reduce violent behaviors and alcohol abuse.
Each therapy session lasts 35 minutes, during which specific goals are defined, decision-making exercises are conducted, and roleplaying exercises are practiced. It can be implemented through an interactive virtual resource on a laptop or through face-to-face intervention by a trained therapist.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies show a statistically significant reduction in measures of violent attitudes associated with alcohol consumption. However, there were no statistically significant effects on the measures of aggression or experiences of peer violence, consequences of violence, and heavy drinking in general [1] [2].
In addition, no impact on alcohol- or violence-related behavior change was observed [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Cunningham, R. M., Walton, M. A., Goldstein, A., Chermack, S. T., Shope, J. T., Bingham, C. R., Zimmerman, M. A. & Blow, F. C. (2009). Three-month follow-up of brief computerized and therapist interventions for alcohol and violence among teens. Academic Emergency Medicine: Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 16(11), 1193–1207. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00513.x

[2] Walton, M. A., Chermack, S. T., Shope, J. T., Bingham, C. R., Zimmerman, M. A., Blow, F. C., & Cunningham, R. M. (2010). Effects of a brief intervention for reducing violence and alcohol misuse among adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Jama, 304(5), 527-535. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1066

Information source