New Inroads in Preventing Adolescent Drug Use: Results From a Large-Scale Trial of Project ALERT in Middle Schools
Phyllis L. Ellickson, PhD,
Daniel F. McCaffrey, PhD,
Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar, PhD and
Douglas L. Longshore, PhD
All of the authors are with RAND, Santa Monica, Calif.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Phyllis L. Ellickson, PhD, RAND, 1700 Main St, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 (e-mail: phyllis_ellickson{at}rand.org).
Objectives. We evaluated the revised Project ALERT drug preventionprogram across a wide variety of Midwestern schools and communities.
Methods. Fifty-five South Dakota middle schools were randomlyassigned to program or control conditions. Treatment group studentsreceived 11 lessons in 7th grade and 3 more in 8th grade. Programeffects for 4276 8th-graders were assessed 18 months after baseline.
Results. The revised Project ALERT curriculum curbed cigaretteand marijuana use initiation, current and regular cigaretteuse, and alcohol misuse. Reductions ranged from 19% to 39%.Program effects were not significant for initial and currentdrinking or for current and regular marijuana use.
Conclusions. School-based drug prevention programs can preventoccasional and more serious drug use, help low- to high-riskadolescents, and be effective in diverse school environments.
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