Supporting Prevention Science and Prevention Research Internationally

Abstract

Substance misuse is a global phenomenon representing a major public health issue worldwide. Though the exact nature and patterning of the problem vary across countries there are striking similarities providing opportunities for thinking about substance misuse internationally. Similar risk and protective factors are seen in contrasting national contexts such as parenting practices and family relationships. Similarly, the short- and long-term health effects of substance misuse by young people manifest themselves across contrasting cultural and socio-economic settings. Whilst the development and effectiveness of prevention efforts vary widely, many countries have introduced prevention initiatives aimed at young people that address known risk and protective factors. School- and family-based interventions are common in many parts of the world for instance. At their best such efforts comprise well-theorised interventions with clear mechanisms of action operating within broader prevention systems which support intervention development, evaluation and long-term implementation. But there is considerable variation in the development of prevention systems, particularly when comparing high- and low/middle-income nations. Two key aspects of the development of international research and collaboration within the field of prevention science are discussed: first why international embrace of prevention science is important and the ways in which it contributes to the development of the field; and second some of the major challenges to building international research including the varying capacity of prevention systems, the complexities of working across geographical and cultural borders, the questions raised when interventions are transported to new settings and the appropriateness of undertaking cultural adaptations. The chapter describes some of the current strategies and initiatives which seek to address these challenges to build an international prevention science.