Prevention for cildren 6-12 years with parents who misuse alcohol/illicit drugs: The effectiveness of the most commonly used program - Group interventions

Approximately 20% of children and adolescents in Sweden grow up with at least one parent who has alcohol misuse. These children are vulnerable not only to develop misuse on their own, but also to develop other problem behaviors.

The aim of the proposed research project is to evaluate the effects of the most common preventive strategy in Sweden, child group interventions that target children 6-12-years.

Potential mechanisms and which components of the program that contributes the most will also be evaluated.The evaluation trial has a quasi-experimental design with intervention group and a control group. The control group receives structured child group interventions with trained leaders during 15-23 sessions.

At least 200 children from approximately 34 group interventions in the regions of Västra Götaland, Skåne, Värmland and Gotland will be recruited.

The control group receives “treatment as usual” (usual or routine care) and will be recruited from social services, schools, and two of the largest NGOs that work with these children, Junis and Trygga barnen. Pre- and after-intervention assessments and a 6 month follow-up assessment will be conducted.

Outcomes include chronic stress, emotional problems, hyperactive/inattention, and conduct problems.

Possible mechanisms include coping strategies, self-esteem and social support.The project is a collaboration between Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet and two end user organizations, the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN), and the Västra Götaland organization of Swedish Council on Alcohol and Drugs that organizes group leader educations.

The project will not only increase our understanding of whether child group interventions for this population are effective but also why, which directly will contribute to improvements of the program.