NCJ Number
159403
Date Published
1988
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This review of research illustrates the complexity of adolescent drug abuse and its prevention and indicates that a social influences approach focused on preventing the initiation of drug use by reducing the influence of peer pressure will have limited effect by itself, especially in the case of alcohol.
Abstract
More attention must be directed toward problem users and underlying behavioral problems. Further, prevention efforts must begin earlier than junior high school if peer pressure is to be countered and behavioral problems associated with later drug abuse are to be addressed effectively. It also appears that prevention efforts effective for one drug may not be effective for another and that the prevention of alcohol abuse among adolescents requires interventions different from those required for tobacco and illicit drug use. Finally, the research provides some hope that school-based programs rooted in sound psychosocial principles can be effective and that credible information dissemination can also have a positive impact. Without broader action at the community level, however, school-based prevention efforts will have limited impact. Abstracts of publications dealing with drug abuse and prevention are included. 59 references