Marcus, Marianne T and Walker, Thomas and Swint, J Michael and Page Smith, Brenda and Brown, Cleon and Busen, Nancy and Edwards, Thelissa and Liehr, Patricia and Taylor, Wendell C and Williams, Darryal and von Sternberg, Kirk (2004) Community-based participatory research to prevent substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in African-American adolescents. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 18 (4). pp. 347-359.

Abstract

Adolescence is a time for exploration and risk-taking; in today’s urban environment, with the twin threats of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS, the stakes are particularly high. This paper describes a community-based participatory research project to design, implement, and evaluate a faith-based substance abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention program for African-American adolescents. A coalition of university-based investigators and African-American church member stakeholders collaborated on all aspects of Project BRIDGE, the 3-year intervention to reduce substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in African-American adolescents. Our results support the use of community-based participatory research to create desirable change in this setting. Adolescents who participated in Project BRIDGE reported significantly less marijuana and other drug use and more fear of AIDS than a comparison group. Project BRIDGE has been designated an official ministry of the church and the program has been extended to others in the larger metropolitan community. The church now has a welltrained volunteer staff. University faculty developed skills in negotiating with community-based settings. The coalition remains strong with plans for continued collaborative activities.

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