Leveraging Research Findings to Advance Prevention in a Changing World

Advances in prevention over the next decade will come in part by building on research findings from neuroscience, developmental psychopathology, etiology, and epidemiology. In some cases these findings may encourage the development and/or implementation of a broader range of prevention approaches. For example, neuroscience and developmental psychopathology studies indicating that early self-regulatory deficiencies may contribute to later escalations in substance use and greater vulnerability to substance use disorder might lead to the incorporation of modified mindfulness training techniques into prevention programs. Etiologic and epidemiologic findings indicate that substance availability, social norms and sanctions associated with particular substances, and perceived harm of particular substances influences both age of initiation of use and prevalence of use. As the legal status and presumed availability of cannabis changes, research may suggest that prevention programs need to focus on younger populations and/or to adapt to changing social realities. Developmental psychopathology and comorbidity findings suggest that for some individuals, prodromal and/or underlying psychopathologies and psychological impairments may increase the probability of substance use and substance use disorders. For these children and adolescents, prevention might involve psychotherapeutic treatment to enhance effectiveness. This roundtable will bring together knowledgeable individuals from diverse relevant scientific fields, prevention program development, and prevention implementation to discuss how research findings from allied scientific areas may advance prevention. The chair will have examples to supplement the discussion which will also consider ways in which new advances may have implications for new research directions, implementation, and policy.