An innovation in drug prevention programs for adolescents: the Hong Kong Astro project.
Recent approaches to drug prevention have turned to focus on comprehensive strategies that target early risk factors and that strengthen protective factors in adolescence.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a drug prevention program that is evidence-based and conceptually sound for the Chinese community.


METHODS
The "Astro" project was designed for high-risk youths in Hong Kong and consisted of three psychosocial primary prevention programs conducted in structured group sessions.


METHODS
A three-year longitudinal study and control group comparisons are integrated in this project for the program evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings showed that the experimental group, after participating in the programs, was generally better than the control group in terms of social skills, knowledge of drugs, refusal skills, attitudes towards drugs, and the behavioral intention to avoid drug abuse. It suggests that this program could function well as a drug prevention program.
Lam
Chiu Wan
CW
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong. cwlam@hku.hk
Shek
Daniel T L
DT
Ng
Ho Yee
HY
Yeung
Ka Ching
KC
Lam
Debbie O B
DO
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires