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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 21(2)

Juvenile probation officers delivering an intervention for substance use significantly reduces adolescents’ risky sexual behaviours

Rebecca L. Fix https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5506-3960 A * , Colleen S. Walsh B , Ashli J. Sheidow https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0081-6179 C , Michael R. McCart C , Jason E. Chapman C and Tess K. Drazdowski https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2339-0780 C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.

B Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.

C Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.

* Correspondence to: rebecca.fix@jhu.edu

Handling Editor: Jason Ong

Sexual Health 21, SH23181 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH23181
Submitted: 3 November 2023  Accepted: 5 February 2024  Published: 26 February 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Background

Risky sexual behaviour (RSB) is a serious public health problem for adolescents. We examined whether a contingency management intervention implemented by juvenile probation officers (JPOs) targeting substance use also impacted RSB.

Methods

A total of 218 adolescents on probation were randomly assigned to contingency management or to probation as usual.

Results

The substance use intervention delivered by JPOs reduced rates of RSB over time (β = −0.32, P = 0.041 at 6 months; β = −0.32, P = 0.036 at 9 months).

Conclusions

Adolescents receiving a substance use intervention from JPOs demonstrated reduced/prevented RSB. Interventions targeting single risk behaviours in juvenile probation populations should measure changes in other risk behaviours. Under-resourced communities lacking clinicians might consider JPOs delivering interventions.

Keywords: delinquency, evaluation, family, intervention, justice system, legal system, prevention, youth.

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