SPORT
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
SPORT is a brief, multiple behavior program integrating substance abuse prevention and fitness promotion. The program helps adolescents minimize and avoid substance use while increasing physical activity and other health-promoting habits. SPORT is based on the Behavior-Image Model, which asserts that social and self-images are key motivators for the development of healthy behavior. The intervention promotes the benefits of an active lifestyle with positive images of youth as active and fit, and emphasizes that substance use is counterproductive in achieving positive image and behavior goals. SPORT involves a health behavior survey, which measures physical activity and sport behaviors and norms, healthy nutrition, sleep, and alcohol use. Participants then receive a 10- to 12-minute personally tailored consultation along with a key facts handout. A fitness goal plan is completed by participants to motivate positive behavior and image change. In addition, parent/caregiver communication cards addressing key content are provided during the consultation and then sent or mailed home to adolescents for 3 to 5 consecutive weeks.
Goal / Mission
The goal of SPORT is to help adolescents avoid substance use by increasing physical activity and bettering their self images.
Impact
This program provides a whole body experience, where youth focus on improvements in their lives instead of drugs.
Results / Accomplishments
SPORT has been used with approximately 2,500 individuals, and four evaluation studies have been conducted. In a study using an experimental design with randomly assigned intervention and control groups, at the 3-month follow-up, students who participated in SPORT reported lower frequency and quantity of alcohol use and less heavy use of alcohol in the past 30 days compared with the control group (p < .002). In addition, students who participated in SPORT reported having been drinking for shorter periods of time and had less intention to use alcohol in the future compared with students in the control group (p < .002). SPORT students also reported less frequent cigarette use in the past 30 days compared with students in the control group (p = .01). At 12-month follow-up, students who participated in SPORT reported shorter duration of alcohol use (p = .03) and less intention to use cigarettes in the future (p < .001) compared with students in the control group.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Prevention Plus Wellness
Primary Contact
C. E. Werch, Ph.D.
3595 Forest Bend Terrace
Jacksonville, FL 32224
(904) 472-5022
http://preventionpluswellness.com/
3595 Forest Bend Terrace
Jacksonville, FL 32224
(904) 472-5022
http://preventionpluswellness.com/
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Prevention Plus Wellness
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens