AN APPLICATION OF SOUND PORTRAIT AUDIOTAPES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION EDUCATION TO ETHNIC MINORITY PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS

TRANS-LINGUA COMMUNICATIONS, INC., PLANS TO PRODUCE AND VALIDATE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM USING SOUND PORTRAITS (COLLAGES OF AUDIOTAPE SEGMENTS) FROM INTERVIEWS WITH EX-ABUSERS, SIBLINGS, PARENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS ON THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ETHNIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCES LEADING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RECOVERY. DESIGNED TO INFORM AND HELP EMPOWER LISTENERS, THE AUDIOTAPES WILL PRESENT FACTS ON THE EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ADDICTION AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS TO RESIST OR LEAVE DRUGS. THE AUDIOTAPES WILL MODEL LEVELS OF SHARING AND SERVE AS A SPRINGBOARD TO SELF-EXAMINATION IN SMALL FACILITATOR- OR PEER-LED DISCUSSION GROUPS. THESE TAPES WILL STIMULATE RECONSIDERATION OF ESSENTIAL ISSUES AND CULTURAL/ETHNIC AND ECONOMIC REALITIES THAT PARTICIPANTS MUST RESOLVE AND COPE WITH TO GAIN CONTROL AND DIRECTION OVER THEIR LIVES IN HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS. FACILITATOR AND PARTICIPANT GUIDEBOOKS WILL ASSIST PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, DISCUSSION TOPICS, EXERCISES, AND ACTIVITIES. THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH WILL BE TESTED WITH TARGET AUDIENCES BY EVALUATING ITS CULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND DISCUSSION GROUP DYNAMICS. REFINEMENTS WILL BE MADE IN THE MATERIALS AND TAPES TO IMPROVE THEIR USABILITY AS CULTURALLYSENSITIZING TOOLS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING OR DESIGNING PREVENTION EDUCATION STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS.