MINDFULNESS BASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH FASD

Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD are at risk for substance use and abuse Given the dearth of interventions designed specifically for adolescents with FASD there exists a need for evidence based preventive intervention programs for this population Thus the goal of the proposed Phase II application is to complete the product development and evaluate the effectiveness of the Aware Program an online mindfulness based substance abuse prevention program for adolescents with FASD The program content and format of the Aware Program address the unique challenges that exist for providing adolescents with FASD the skills needed to control their feelings and behaviors in order to make healthy decisions The final Aware Program will Include four courses each that represent the foundations of mindfulness awareness of body feelings thoughts and relationships In Phase I the technical feasibility of the first course Take was established providing support for the continued development of the Aware Program in Phase II In Year the three courses will be developed and feasibility will be examined in one to one evaluations with adolescents with FASD In Year a randomized controlled trial will be conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of the Aware Program