108 The Resist! Project: Use of a mixed-methods approach to identify substance use resistance factors

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: The aim of the study is to identify resistance factors for substance use (i.e., factors that explicitly help to avoid or reduce drug use). Identification of resistance factors could inform strategies that seek to reduce the prevalence of substance use and related disorders. Methods/Study Population: Adult twins aged 30–70 years were recruited from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry. A mixed-method approach, group concept mapping, was used to identify factors influencing participants to resist using substances. Approximately 155 participants produced 97 statements reflecting substance use resistance factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling assessed how participants sorted and rated statements for their lifetime and current importance. Factor analysis was used to reduce data dimensionality. Reliability analyses were conducted to identify a subset of statements anticipated to consistently represent each cluster. Results were shared with participants to assess accuracy with their experiences. Results/Anticipated Results: Participants sorted 97 statements into 9 thematic clusters: (1) Controlling Personal, Negative Consequences; (2) Concern About Health and Well-being; (3) Lack of Desire; (4) Outside Influences; (5) Social Norms and My Reputation; (6) Career and Legal Impacts, (7) Avoiding Harm to Family and Relationships; (8) Preserving Family Relationships; and (9) Family and Friends Impact on Me. Participants consistently identified health concerns as an important substance use resistance factor. The statements will be further reduced to represent a smaller subset for future use as a scale to measure exposure to resistance factors. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Health concerns related to substance use were identified as an important resistance factor. This has been supported by research on smoking cessation and implemented in smoking prevention campaigns. Therefore, prioritizing health-related outcomes in prevention may be important to reduce substance use prevalence.