Gender-Responsive Drug Use Treatment for Juvenile Justice Girls
Condition: Drug Use
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Girls in the juvenile justice system have unique developmental pathways to drug use and
      co-occurring risk (e.g., HIV/STI) behaviors that have typically not been considered or tested
      in order to identify evidence-based gender-specific substance use treatment approaches for
      this population. This study will advance scientific knowledge and clinical practice in the
      drug treatment and public health fields by testing the efficacy of a pre-existing, widely
      disseminated gender-responsive substance use treatment (VOICES) on drug use and HIV/STI risk
      behavior outcomes for a broad range of substance using girls and young women (ages 12-24) who
      are at-risk for or already involved with the justice system.
    

Detailed description: 
      Compared to both non-offending females and male offending counterparts, offending girls are
      at significantly greater risk for the development of substance use disorders, psychiatric
      symptoms and negative health outcomes, such as HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted
      infections (STIs). Research suggests that girls may have different developmental pathways to
      drug use, initial legal involvement and co-occurring negative health outcomes that support
      the importance of testing gender-specific treatments for juvenile justice girls. Although
      there is recent increased emphasis on gender-specific programming in juvenile justice,
      empirically supported gender specific interventions to improve health, mental health and/or
      legal outcomes among juvenile justice girls are lacking. The objective of this Stage II
      treatment trial is therefore to test the efficacy of a pre-existing, widely disseminated
      gender-responsive drug use treatment (VOICES) among 130 girls who are at-risk for or already
      involved with the justice system. We seek to test the effect of VOICES on girls' drug and
      alcohol use, HIV/STI risk, psychiatric symptoms and recidivism as well as explore moderators
      and mediators of outcomes. Girls and young women, ages 12-24 (N= 6 juveniles for Phase I
      Intervention Run-Through; N=130 for Phase II RCT study) will be recruited from justice
      partners (probation, diversion programs) and school partners (high schools/middle schools).
      Participants will be randomized to either the VOICES (active) intervention (n=65) or a Girl
      Health (attention control) condition (n=65). In Phase I (first six months of Year 1), 6
      juveniles will be recruited to complete the Intervention Run-Through and research assessment
      once to allow testing of RCT intervention and assessment procedures prior to the RCT phase.
      In Phase II (last half of Year 1 through Year 4), 130 girls will be recruited and randomized
      at baseline and then re-assessed at mid-treatment, end of treatment, 3 months and 6 months
      post-intervention. Biological specimens for juvenile drug use will also be collected at each
      3-month assessment. Efficacy trial results can be used to make immediate changes to current
      widespread program delivery resulting in direct impact on the field of evidence-based
      gender-responsive substance use interventions for juvenile justice girls and young women.
    

Intervention name(s): VOICES Group; Girl Health Group
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): VOICES: A program of self-discovery and empowerment includes four modules: Self (A), Connecting with others (B), Healthy living (C), and the Journey Ahead (D). All sessions are 60 minutes long and include required and optional activities.; The Girl Health group comparison condition includes adolescent groups matched for time and attention to VOICES groups. Intervention take a psychoeducational/didactic approach and content focuses on a range of health behaviors, including substance use, exercise, nutrition and sleep.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Adolescent; Juvenile Justice; Drug Use; Marijuana; Gender Responsive; Girls; HIV; Sexual Risk