Three groups of secondary school students were identified in the sample of over 7,000 high school students from the 1987/88 California Substance Use Survey based on patterns of involvement with alcohol and other drugs. Of primary interest are high risk users (HRUs) who engage in socially deplored and often dangerous forms of substance use. HRU…

This paper focuses on the role of school curriculums in influencing students' behavior in relation to the drinking of alcoholic beverages and driving or consenting to be a passenger in a car. It examines the moral reasons why people should not drink and drive and how schools can influence this morality through behavioral and developmental…

This resource guide provides information on programs, publications, organizations, and other resources related to prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The purpose of this guide is to assist health care providers to comply with Indian Health Service (IHS) FAS goals and objectives. It gives examples of community approaches to FAS prevention,…

In 2003, Sierra Health Foundation's Board of Directors selected school-aged youth as the target for its next focused grantmaking effort. As part of the program research and development phase, staff and consultants examined evidenced-based practices that appear promising in positively affecting adolescent health and development for young people…

Research confirms a direct link between student health risk behavior and education outcomes, education behaviors, and student attitudes. This article discusses barriers to comprehensive school health programming; summarizes relevant information concerning several health-risk behaviors (intentional injuries, diet, physical activity, sexual-risk…

Evaluated effectiveness of provincewide chemical abuse prevention education program for elementary grades with 2,092 students and 500 teachers. Found students had high initial knowledge level, certain students showed significant knowledge gains, program was most effective with low knowledge base students, program was in use in 20 percent to 30…

Presents examples of how using technology can help raise self-esteem and improve academic performance for students who are identified as being at-risk. Topics discussed include the use of computer labs, filmstrips, and videos to strengthen academic skills, and to deal with such social issues as drop-outs, alcoholism, pregnancy, and suicide. Two…

Describes creation and development of Drinking Is Not Our Solution (DINOS) software. Designed to provide both counselors and students with a way to explore attitudes toward drinking, it permits a young person to independently assess his or her own choices by identifying with characters. (JBJ)

Interprets data obtained through surveys concerning Soviet college students' alcohol consumption. Examines onset of drinking, frequency of drinking and inebriation, peer influence, gender differences, and students' self-assessments of alcohol use. Considers alcohol's habituating effects and consequent impact on individual development. (CH)

Summarizes results from 1999 national school-based surveys and trends during 1991-99 in selected youth risk behaviors as well as 33 state and 16 local school-based surveys. Prevalence of several injury-related behaviors and sexual behaviors have improved. Current smoking rates may be declining. Certain risk behaviors are more common among…

In an attempt to devise a methodology for characterizing children's intuitive theories of drug action, 217 children in Grades 1 to 6 were interviewed about how two substances, alcohol and cocaine, cause behavioral changes in their users. Measures tapped both structure (Piagetian complexity of causal reasoning, coherence, and construction of a…

This study examined whether two versions of a drug and alcohol curriculum explaining how substances affect behavior and health, one version more causally coherent than the other, were more effective than a control curriculum on disease in changing school-age children's (N = 327) beliefs and attitudes regarding cocaine and alcohol. Few differences…

The problem use of alcohol causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States per year and has substantial negative impact on family structure, the economy and the criminal justice system. Screening and early treatment of individuals with problem use of alcohol by health professionals can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity. Students from…

The current study of 389 university freshman cited by the administration for underaged drinking examines gender and three drinking contexts (i.e., convivial, intimate, and negative coping) as differential predictors of personal problems (e.g., depressed, nervous) and social problems (e.g., unplanned sex, drove under the influence) that respondents…

By better understanding differences in health-risk behaviors among youth in rural, suburban and urban communities, health educators and other public health practitioners can more appropriately focus prevention and health care programs. In this study, we examined data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to determine whether…