NCJ Number
207876
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 17-40
Date Published
2004
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the methodology and findings of an evaluation of the "Protecting You/Protecting Me" (PY/PM) alcohol-use prevention and safety curriculum for third, fourth, and fifth graders.
Abstract
The PY/PM's primary goal is to prevent the injury and death of children caused by the underage consumption of alcoholic beverages as well as the risk associated with being a passenger in a vehicle driven by a person under the influence of alcohol. The PY/PM presents a series of 42 classroom-based lessons. The topics covered are "Our Brain;" "Growth and Development;" "Health and Safety;" "Rules and Laws;" "Friends;" "Choices and Decisions;" "Media Awareness;" and "Communication." High School students in the Peer Assistance and Leadership peer helper program were selected to deliver the lessons to elementary students. Four sites in Texas participated in the project. Two classrooms for each grade were randomly assigned to receive either the intervention or serve as a comparison group that did not receive the program. A 6-week follow-up survey was completed with 120 intervention students, along with pretests and posttests. The findings show that compared with the control group, the intervention group significantly improved in vehicle safety skills, intentions not to ride with an alcohol-impaired driver, media literacy, and knowledge about brain development. The intervention effect varied somewhat in a few areas, depending on pretest score, gender, and grade level. Overall, however, the program produced significant improvements in those areas measured by the evaluation. 4 tables, 54 references, and appended table of survey scales