Results of a type 2 translational research trial to prevent adolescent drug use and delinquency: a test of Communities That Care.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system reduces adolescent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and delinquent behavior communitywide.


METHODS
The Community Youth Development Study is the first randomized trial of CTC.


METHODS
In 2003, 24 small towns in 7 states, matched within state, were randomly assigned to control or CTC conditions.


METHODS
A panel of 4407 fifth-grade students was surveyed annually through eighth grade. Intervention A coalition of community stakeholders received training and technical assistance to install the CTC prevention system. They used epidemiological data to identify elevated risk factors and depressed protective factors in the community, and chose and implemented tested programs to address their community's specific profile from a menu of effective programs for families, schools, and youths aged 10 to 14 years.


METHODS
Incidence and prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and delinquent behavior by spring of grade 8.


RESULTS
The incidences of alcohol, cigarette and smokeless tobacco initiation, and delinquent behavior were significantly lower in CTC than in control communities for students in grades 5 through 8. In grade 8, the prevalences of alcohol and smokeless tobacco use in the last 30 days, binge drinking in the last 2 weeks, and the number of different delinquent behaviors committed in the last year were significantly lower for students in CTC communities.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the CTC system to reduce health-risking behaviors in adolescents can significantly reduce these behaviors communitywide.
Hawkins
J David
JD
Social Development Research Group, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. jdh@u.washington.edu
Oesterle
Sabrina
S
Brown
Eric C
EC
Arthur
Michael W
MW
Abbott
Robert D
RD
Fagan
Abigail A
AA
Catalano
Richard F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology