Robert Apsler

Promoting Positive Adolescent Development for At-Risk Students with a Student Assistance Program

This study evaluated the psycho-educational small-group component of the CASPAR Youth Services Student Assistance Program with a randomized-controlled trial. Two cohorts of at-risk sixth graders from six schools in two communities were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions and tested one and a half years later at the end of the seventh grade. A generalized estimating equations model yielded a significant intervention effect on all three composite outcome variables. The results support the effectiveness of prevention strategies aimed at promoting positive youth development and a social influence process for adolescents that creates trusting relationships as the foundation for helping youth improve key skills, exert greater control over their lives, and make informed decisions about substances. Editors Strategic Implications: School administrators should be aware of this promising approach (pending replication) of using student assistance counselors to promote childrens intrinsic motivation and potential for positive decision making.

Former state hospital patients in private general hospital psychiatric emergency settings

Increasing numbers of patients formerly hospitalized in state facilities are using private general hospital psychiatric emergency services. To define their clinical needs, the authors compared the characteristics of patients hospitalized in state institutions to those hospitalized privately and to those never hospitalized. They found that two discrete clinical groups exist: those from state and those from private systems. Clinicians reacted most negatively to former state patients. This was also reflected by differences in the dispositions of voluntary patients from the emergency room. Those not hospitalized or privately hospitalized were more likely than former state hospitalized patients to be sent to private facilities.

Post opioid overdose outreach by public health and public safety agencies: Exploration of emerging programs in Massachusetts

BACKGROUND Opioid overdose is a significant public health problem. Collaborative programs between local public health and public safety agencies have emerged to connect overdose survivors and their personal networks with harm reduction and addiction treatment services following a non-fatal overdose event. This study explored the prevalence of these programs in Massachusetts and the different ways they have been structured and function. METHODS We sent an online screening questionnaire to police and fire departments in all 351 communities in Massachusetts to find instances in which they collaborated with a community-based public health agency to implement a post-overdose outreach and support program. We conducted telephone interviews with communities that implemented this type of program and categorized programs based on their structure, outreach approach, and other key characteristics. RESULTS Police and fire personnel from 110 of the 351 communities in Massachusetts (31% response rate) completed the screening survey. Among respondents, 21% (23/110) had implemented a collaborative, community-based, post-overdose program with a well-defined process to connect overdose survivors and their personal networks with support services or addiction treatment services. Using data from the interviews, we identified four types of programs: (1) Multi-Disciplinary Team Visit, (2) Police Visit with Referrals, (3) Clinician Outreach, and (4) Location-Based Outreach. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the first attempt to systematically document an emerging approach intended to connect opioid overdose survivors and their personal networks with harm reduction and addiction treatment services soon after a non-fatal overdose event. These programs have the potential to increase engagement with the social service and addiction treatment systems by those who are at elevated risk for experiencing a fatal opioid overdose.

Pre- and post-planned evaluations are complements not alternatives: A reply to Strasser and Deniston

Abstract Strasser and Denistons own analysis shows that post-planned evaluations are unsuitable substitutes for pre-planned evaluations. When viewed as post-experimental interviews, however, post-planned evaluations can produce valuable information which complements traditional experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations.