Implementation of The Risk Skills Training Program: A brief intervention targeting adolescent participation in risk behaviors

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial developmental time period in which youth experience increased freedom and begin to individuate from their parents. During this time of exploration, participation in risk behaviors, such as heavy drinking, driving after drinking, and drug use tends to become more frequent. Traditional prevention efforts that typically focus on education have had little success in reducing youth participation in risk behaviors. In contrast, contemporary efforts that incorporate skills training and motivational techniques in addition to education have begun to show promise. The Risk Skills Training Program (RSTP) was developed as a brief, nonconfrontational, 50-minute program that targets high school-age students' alcohol and drug use. Results from a recent study suggest that the RSTP has a positive impact on this age group and is effective in reducing their subsequent participation in risk behaviors.