Substance Abuse Risk and Protective Factors*
Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Team (ADEPT)

Individual

Risk Factors

• Thinks most friends use

• Association with drug-using peers

• Certain physical, emotional or personality traits

  • Inherited genetic vulnerability

  • Low self esteem

  • Psychological disturbances

  • Inappropriate coping responses

  • Violence/ aggression

  • Risk taking propensity/impulsivity

  • Alienation and rebelliousness

  • Rejection of pro-social values/religion

  • Lack of peer refusal skills

• Early and persistent problem behaviors

  • Early sexual activity/teen pregnancy

  • Begins using at a young age

  • Early anti-social behavior

  • Peer rejection in elementary grades

• Academic Failure

• Less involved in recreational, social and cultural activities

• Lack of information on positive health behaviors

  • Lack of information on drug-related topics

Protective Factors

• Knowledge regarding risks associated with substance abuse/use

• Negative attitudes toward substances and substance use

• Bonding to pro-social culture

• Positive relationships with adults

  • Views parents, teachers, doctors, law enforcement officers and other adults as allies

• Social competence

• Youth involvement in alternative activities

• Sense of well-being/self confidence

• Has positive future plans

Peer

Risk Factors

• Reinforcement of negative norms and expectations within peer group

• Thinks alcohol and drug use is "cool"

• Inappropriate sexual activity among peers

• Ties to deviant peers/gang involvement

Protective Factors

• Involved in substance-free activities

• Friends disapprove of alcohol and other drug use

Family

Risk Factors

• Family members with a history of alcohol or other drug abuse

• Family members don't spend much time together

• Parents have trouble keeping track of teens, who they're with and where they go

• Lack of clear rules and consequences regarding alcohol and other drug use

• Parents use drugs, involve youth in their use ("Get me a beer, would you?") or tolerate use by youth

• Parents have trouble setting consistent expectations and limits

• Family conflict/abuse

• Loss of employment

Protective Factors

• Close family relationships

• Consistency of parenting

• Education is valued and encouraged, and parents are actively involved

• Copes with stress in a positive way

• Clear expectations and limits regarding alcohol and other drug use

• Encourages supportive relationships with caring adults beyond the immediate family

• Share family responsibilities, including chores and decision making

• Family members are nurturing and support each other

School

Risk Factors

• Lack of clear expectations, both academic and behavioral

• Students lack commitment or sense of belonging at school

• High numbers of students who fail academically at school

• Parents and community members not actively involved

Protective Factors

• Positive attitudes toward school

  • School bonding

  • Regular school attendance

• Communicates high academic and behavioral expectations

• Encourages goal-setting, academic achievement and positive social development

  • Tutoring available

  • Positive instructional climate

  • Provides leadership and decision making opportunities for students

• Fosters active involvement of students, parents and community members

• Sponsors substance-free events

• School responsive to students' needs

Community/Society

Risk Factors

• Alcohol and other drugs readily available

  • Irresponsible servers and sellers

  • Affordability · Laws and ordinances are unclear or inconsistently enforced

• Norms are unclear or encourage use

• Residents feel little sense of "connection" to community

• Neighborhood disorganization

• Rapid changes in neighborhood populations

• High unemployment

• Residents at or below the poverty level

• Extreme economic deprivation

• Lack of strong social institutions

• Lack of monitoring youths' activities

• Inadequate media portrayals

  • Misleading advertising

• Pro-use messages

Protective Factors

• Opportunities exist for community involvement

• Community religious composition

• Laws and ordinances are consistently enforced

• Informal social control

• Policies and norms encourage non-use

• Community service opportunities available for youth

• Resources (housing, healthcare, childcare, jobs, recreation, etc.) are available

• Comprehensive risk focused programs available

  • Programs for parents of children and adolescents

  • Early childhood and family support programs

  • Widely supported community prevention efforts exist

*Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (2005)