NCJ Number
197911
Date Published
2002
Length
100 pages
Annotation
This report describes the development and implementation of the second 2 years of "NE (Northeast) Choices: the Year Ten and Year Eleven Interventions" and reports findings from the evaluation of the full program, which is a multi-component drug prevention program for youth in the northeast of England.
Abstract
The program targeted a cohort of youth as they progressed through school between the ages of 13 and 16. The behavioral outcomes sought by the program were to reduce the prevalence of drug use, to delay the age of onset of drug use, to reduce the frequency of drug use among those who use drugs, and to reduce the mixing of drugs. A range of integrated intervention components were delivered in the second 2 years of the program. The main components were an all-day, out-of-school drama workshop for a target group of youth ages 14-15; classroom support and follow-up to reinforce the drama workshop; 6-month youth workshops for youth aged 15-16; an intensive outdoor activity program for high-risk youth; drama sessions and drug awareness sessions for parents; and training for teachers, youth workers, and school governors. A longitudinal quasi-experimental study examined the attainment of behavioral outcomes. A baseline and three annual follow-up surveys were conducted with a cohort from six intervention and four control schools. The evaluation found that despite compelling evidence that youth found NE Choices credible and engaging, the intervention was not associated with any changes in drug-taking behavior. A number of possible explanations are discussed, including methodological issues, the intensity of delivery, and the appropriateness of the target group. Extensive tables and figures and 66 references