Abstract

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.

Method. 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.

Author Keywords: drug abuse; prevention; adolescents; minority; middle school

*1 This research was supported by funds from the National Institute for Drug Abuse (P50DA7656).

² To whom reprint requests should be addressed at Institute for Prevention Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021. Fax: 212-746-8390. E-mail: kgriffin@med.cornell.edu.