The Relationship Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Recruitment into Adolescent Family-Based Substance Use Prevention Programs

Youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods are at risk for poor health outcomes. Characteristics of these neighborhoods may translate
into intensified risk due to barriers utilizing preventive care such as substance use prevention programs. While family-level
risks affect recruitment into prevention programs, few studies have addressed the influence of neighborhood risks. This study
consists of 744 families with an 11- to 12-year-old child recruited for a family-based substance use prevention program. Using
US Census data, logistic regressions showed neighborhoods were related to recruitment, beyond individual characteristics.
Greater neighborhood unemployment was related to decreased agreement to participate in the study and lower rates of high school
graduation were related to lower levels of actual enrolment. Conversely, higher rates of single-female-headed households were
related to increased agreement. Recruitment procedures may need to recognize the variety of barriers and enabling forces within
the neighborhood in developing different strategies for the recruitment of youth and their families.