NCJ Number
174413
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: Dated: Pages: issue (1997)-19
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study tested the effectiveness of a drug abuse prevention intervention with a predominantly minority sample of 7th grade students in seven New York City schools.
Abstract
The drug abuse prevention curriculum teaches social resistance skills within the context of a broader intervention that promotes general personal and social competence and is implemented by regular classroom teachers. The study sample included students at seven junior high schools who received the drug abuse prevention intervention or served as controls. Students in the control group received a program that was normally in place in New York City schools. Results indicated the drug abuse prevention intervention was effective on several behavioral measures of current drug use, including polydrug use measures, and on intention measures relevant to future drug use. Further, there was some evidence for factors presumed to mediate the effects of this type of intervention (normative expectations and refusal skills). The findings are significant because they provide additional support for the generalizability to a minority, inner-city adolescent population of an approach previously found to be effective with white, middle-class adolescent populations. In addition, for the first time, the findings demonstrate effects with inner-city minority youth related to multiple drug use. 28 references and 2 tables