Research & Resources

Results from the Strong African American Families (SAAF) prevention program

In this paper, researchers tested the SAAF alcohol use prevention program to gauge its effectiveness. SAAF is a seven-session family skills training program offered in community settings. The study recruited African American families with youth from rural public schools in Georgia and gave them either SAAF or a non-treatment control program. Researchers then measured the alcohol use of youth participants. The program was effective in slowing the growth of the amount of alcohol youth drink as they age into higher risk groups. Effects were stronger among participants who attended at least five sessions. These results build on previous research on the program and provide evidence for its effectiveness. The paper “Family-centered alcohol use prevention for African American adolescents: A randomized clinical trial” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
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