Effectiveness of a universal drug abuse prevention approach for youth at high risk for substance use initiation.
BACKGROUND
Universal school-based prevention programs for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use are typically designed for all students within a particular school setting. However, it is unclear whether such broad-based programs are effective for youth at high risk for substance use initiation.


METHODS
The effectiveness of a universal drug abuse preventive intervention was examined among youth from 29 inner-city middle schools participating in a randomized, controlled prevention trial. A subsample of youth (21% of full sample) was identified as being at high risk for substance use initiation based on exposure to substance-using peers and poor academic performance in school. The prevention program taught drug refusal skills, antidrug norms, personal self-management skills, and general social skills.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that youth at high risk who received the program (n = 426) reported less smoking, drinking, inhalant use, and polydrug use at the one-year follow-up assessment compared to youth at high risk in the control condition that did not receive the intervention (n = 332). Results indicate that a universal drug abuse prevention program is effective for minority, economically disadvantaged, inner-city youth who are at higher than average risk for substance use initiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that universal prevention programs can be effective for a range of youth along a continuum of risk.
Griffin
Kenneth W
KW
Institute for Preventive Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. kgriffin@med.cornell.edu
Botvin
Gilbert J
GJ
Nichols
Tracy R
TR
Doyle
Margaret M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012572:School Health Services; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014505:Urban Population