Abstract
Asian American (AA) adolescents are the fastest growing population in the United States yet understudied in substance use and prevention research. This systematic review aimed to summarize existing literature published through January 2024 on programs targeting substance use prevention among AA adolescents in the U.S. Four independent raters screened 1,008 records with a systematic process for reconciling disagreement following PRISMA guidelines, yielding 9 articles (6 studies) for systematic review. The studies utilized a range of different designs (e.g., RCT, single-arm trial, and qualitative) and assessed heterogeneous outcomes, including cognitive (e.g., risk perceptions, attitudes, mood, and self-efficacy), and behavioral outcomes (e.g., drug use initiation and frequency). Four of the six programs reported promising changes in substance use intentions, with program strategies including psychoeducation, skills training, and photovoice. The small number of studies reported in this systematic review underscores the need for more preventative efforts for AA adolescents, particularly culturally tailored substance use prevention programs targeting alcohol, illicit drugs, and emerging substances.
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Recommended Citation
Lu, Wenhua; Chen, Michelle; Liang, Jingqi; and Lui, Florence
(2025)
"Substance Use Prevention among Asian American Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Literature,"
Health Behavior Research:
Vol. 8:
No.
3.
https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1290
