Juvenile probation officers delivering an intervention for substance use significantly reduces adolescents' risky sexual behaviours.

BACKGROUND

Risky sexual behaviour (RSB) is a serious public health problem for adolescents. We examined whether a contingency management intervention implemented by juvenile probation officers (JPOs) targeting substance use also impacted RSB.

METHODS

A total of 218 adolescents on probation were randomly assigned to contingency management or to probation as usual.

RESULTS

The substance use intervention delivered by JPOs reduced rates of RSB over time (β =-0.32, P =0.041 at 6months; β =-0.32, P =0.036 at 9months).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents receiving a substance use intervention from JPOs demonstrated reduced/prevented RSB. Interventions targeting single risk behaviours in juvenile probation populations should measure changes in other risk behaviours . Under-resourced communities lacking clinicians might consider JPOs delivering interventions.