Preventive Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use

Preventive interventions in adolescent mental health and substance use encompass strategies designed to avert the onset of psychological disorders and the misuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during the formative teenage years. These interventions operate at three tiers: universal programmes delivered to all young people, selective initiatives targeting individuals or groups at elevated risk, and indicated approaches for those exhibiting early signs of distress or risky behaviour. Delivery settings span schools, primary care, community organisations and digital platforms, reflecting a shift towards multipronged and culturally sensitive models. Family involvement, peer support and skills training in emotion regulation, decision-making and self-control underpin many effective models. Recent advances highlight the value of digital and hybrid formats to overcome barriers such as stigma and geographic isolation. Emerging evidence also emphasises tailoring interventions to developmental trajectories and sociocultural contexts, recognising that adolescents’ patterns of mood disturbance and substance use evolve along diverse pathways. Globally, well-implemented prevention can reduce healthcare costs, strengthen resilience and support long-term educational and social outcomes.

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Preventive Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in preventive interventions in adolescent mental health and substance use across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Universal prevention: Strategies delivered to all adolescents irrespective of risk status to promote mental wellbeing and deter substance use.

Selective prevention: Interventions aimed at individuals or subgroups identified as having above-average risk factors for mental disorder or substance misuse.

Indicated prevention: Programmes targeting adolescents who exhibit early symptoms of mental health problems or initial substance use behaviours.

Family-based intervention: Approaches that engage parents or caregivers alongside young people to improve communication, supervision and support.

Latent class trajectory analysis: A statistical method for identifying distinct developmental patterns of symptoms or behaviours within a population over time.

References

1. Trajectories of Drug Use and Depressive Symptoms among Latinx Youth and Sexual Minority Youth. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
2. eHealth Familias Unidas: Pilot Study of an Internet Adaptation of an Evidence-Based Family Intervention to Reduce Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Hispanic Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2017).
3. Effects of a Comprehensive, Multiple Risky Behavior Prevention Program on High School Students. Journal of Addiction (2016).