AUTHOR=Valente de Almeida Sara , Correa Rafael , Gonçalves Judite 

TITLE=Can Intersectoral Interventions Reduce Substance Use in Adolescence? Evidence From a Multicentre Randomized Controlled Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604677

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604677

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives: We measure the impact of an inter-sectoral intervention implemented between 2017 and 2019 with adolescents from Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. 

Methods: The intervention consisted in randomly selecting a group of 440 students to develop after school activities with the institutions. The 440 students in the control group participated in the activities but were not involved in their construction. We use a difference-in-differences model to measure the impact of this intervention in alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption. 

Results: An adolescent in the treatment group is 8 pp less likely to consume tobacco and cannabis (p$<$0.01) and 13pp less likely to consume alcohol at least one day in the last month (p$<$0.01). The intervention did not have a strong impact on frequent consumption, while peer effect was always a significant determinant. 

Conclusion: We believe this type of activities can be a key instrument in decreasing substance use in a very crucial stage of life, specially if implemented by professionals familiar to the subjects.