Reviews research on student assistance programs for early intervention in substance abuse and provides information from the evaluation of a multischool program in Washington state. Despite the widespread adoption of these programs, there is little substantiation of their effectiveness. Although participating students generally show improvements,…

Many people acknowledge that youth need to be educated so that they value healthy lifestyles and abstain from alcohol and other drug use. Literature particularly lends itself to these issues. In addition, language arts material and literature may specifically address issues of alcohol and other drug use by young people or their families and…

Looks at adolescent alcohol use and the strategy of responsible decision making (RDM) in regard to alcohol. States that RDM was erroneously discontinued in the mid-1989s, and that young people are still grappling with alcohol-related problems. Argues that RDM provides information, motivates discussion of adolescent activities, and promotes…

Survey found 57 percent of high school seniors reported drinking in previous month, down from 72 percent in 1980. Although illicit drug use is also down, alcohol abuse among U.S. teens remains alarmingly high. Schools should back up iron-fisted reaction to drinking with comprehensive drug/alcohol program long on prevention and intervention.…

This resource guide contains a list of materials on drug and alcohol prevention for secondary school students. The information is divided into three sections: (1) prevention materials, including information on inhalants, AIDS, sports and drugs, and sex and alcohol; (2) studies, articles, and reports on secondary school students, including…

The Project Prevention curriculum is specifically designed for the prevention of substance abuse among students with disabilities and was piloted in 10 classrooms serving students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities. This component of the curriculum is intended for secondary students and includes four sections with a total of 67 lesson…

A 1989 National Youth Sports Coaches Association survey of about 1,200 youth aged 10-14 indicated that young athletes identify somewhat with their drug-using athlete models. Forty-three percent of respondents felt that steroids are not harmful if properly used, and 45% felt that steroids were likely to increase their athletic performance. Steroids…

This paper reports the preliminary findings of a county-wide study of alcohol and other drug (AOD) behaviors and influences among 2,229 randomly selected students in grade 8, 10, and 12. The discussion focuses on behavioral, cognitive, and environmental predictors of AOD behaviors. The paper highlights a refined study of the influence of peers,…

Designed as a handout for a poster presentation, this paper describes a drug prevalence survey used in Alabama, and methods of establishing drug abuse prevention programs. All students in grade 7, 9, and 11 in the state (N=140,000+) completed a 466-variable drug prevalence survey. The survey identified rates of use for 14 substances, including…

Discusses drug use in U.S. history. Argues that a "get-tough" approach did not work in the past and will not work in the future. Suggests that history can provide a scholarly assessment of drugs, foster understanding of drugs in contemporary society, and enable students to evaluate drug policies more objectively. (DK)

Presents a program targeting minority high school honor students in their junior and senior years. The program's goal is to educate youths regarding current alcohol and drug research and treatment approaches. Utilizes a mentor-based curriculum, along with lectures, laboratory sessions, a research project, workshops, and site visits. Includes a…

Alcohol and drug abuse were viewed as a clear way of demonstrating personal or social sophistication in a Canadian secondary school. Neither the school nor the local community had developed a strategy for dealing with the problem of substance abuse among the students. The program described in this report was designed to reduce the level of alcohol…

This technical assistance paper is designed to give trainers guidance on teaching the development and use of substance-abuse lessons found in "Street Law: A Course in Practical Law." The paper provides background on the lessons, a rationale for using the lessons, and sample agendas to use in training. "Street Law" contains…

Describes Nebraska's experience with a successful prevention program to form and maintain local drug-free youth groups. Over 4,500 youths were involved at a 6-year evaluation. Results showed that the programs attracted a significant number of high-risk youths. Nearly all reported being alcohol and tobacco free in the previous month. (SM)

Outlines steps used in implementing Project ASSIST [Aiding School Systems in Establishing SAP (Student Assistance Programs) Training], a culturally sensitive, school-based, peer helping program for Native-American youth that addressed substance abuse. Data from a needs assessment and program evaluation indicated that more successful schools had…