NCJ Number
139051
Date Published
1992
Length
81 pages
Annotation
This analysis of the design, implementation, and results of promising comprehensive, community-based drug abuse prevention programs for young adolescents revealed that these programs all contained six elements.
Abstract
The programs were identified by means of a survey questionnaire that was received from 138 promising programs (a 68-percent response rate) and onsite interviews and observations at 10 of the most promising programs. Although definitive findings are not yet available to demonstrate the effectiveness of the programs, the research indicated that some were making more progress than others. These programs had six crucial features: (1) a comprehensive strategy, (2) an indirect approach to drug abuse prevention, (3) the goal of empowering youth, (4) a participatory approach, (5) a culturally-sensitive orientation, and (6) highly structured activities. In addition, programs experienced several problems in six areas of program implementation: (1) maintaining continuity with their participants, (2) coordinating and integrating their service components, (3) providing accessible services, (4) obtaining funds, (5) attracting necessary leadership and staff, and (6) conducting evaluation. Footnotes, tables, and appended program descriptions