This document lays out the research methodology and outcomes of an examination of the efficacy of a youth drug-prevention program in a community setting, which targeted middle-school aged children.
The authors of this paper report on their testing of the effectiveness of a youth drug-prevention program in a community setting. Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Stay SMART program, adapted from a school-based personal and social competence drug prevention program, was offered, with and without a two-year booster program, to 13-year-old members of Boys & Girls Clubs. Over 27 months: five Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program; five Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program with the booster programs; and four Boys & Girls Clubs served as a control group. The Stay SMART program alone and the Stay SMART program with the booster programs showed effects for marijuana-related behavior, cigarette-related behavior, alcohol-related behavior, overall drug-related behavior, and knowledge concerning drug use. The Stay SMART program with the booster programs produced additional effects for alcohol attitudes and marijuana attitudes after each year of booster programs. Results suggest that a school-based personal and social competence program can be adapted effectively to a community setting and that booster programs might enhance program effects. The authors also discuss implications for alternative community models of prevention. Publisher Abstract Provided