title: Peer helping/involvement: an efficacious way to meet the challenge of reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among youth?
abstract: Peer-led drug prevention programs for middle school youth are reviewed as to whether or not they are a vital resource in an overall effort to minimize the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD). The paper focuses on the following: a) results of a 120-study meta-analysis of school-based drug prevention programs and positive program features; b) considerations for falsely concluding that peer programs are ineffective; c) features of two model or stellar programs that compared interactive (peer leadership) to teacher/researcher-led (non-interactive) programs that followed National Peer Helpers Association (NPHA) Programmatic Standards; and d) suggestions for designing and implementing high-quality, peer-led programs. The authors conclude that interactive peer interventions for middle school students are statistically superior to non-interactive didactic, lecture programs led by teachers/researchers. Programs implemented according to NPHA Programmatic Standards may eliminate Type II (false negative) and III ("implementation failure" or ineffectively designed and implemented program) errors. Opportunities for prudent application of well-designed peer programs appropriately implemented and evaluated must remain a salient priority.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion/HKLS, Purdue University, IN 47907-1362, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Tobler
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sciacca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015982:Bias; D005178:Faculty; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009656:North America; D010379:Peer Group; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*