Related Experiment Videos
Evaluation of a substance abuse prevention program for junior high school students
The International Journal of the Addictions
|July 1, 1984
Summary
This study found that a drug education program positively impacted female students' knowledge and smoking behaviors. However, the intervention showed no significant effects for males, suggesting a need for gender-tailored approaches in prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Primary prevention programs aim to reduce adolescent drug use.
- Effective Classroom Management and Drug Education were implemented in schools.
- Understanding differential program effects based on gender is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of two primary prevention strategies on seventh-grade students.
- To assess program impacts on drug knowledge, smoking behaviors, and peer perceptions.
- To identify potential gender-based differences in intervention outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental design comparing an intervention group with a comparison group.
- Intervention included Effective Classroom Management and a specialist-taught Drug Education mini-course.
- Process and outcome evaluation data were collected for both groups.
Main Results:
- Females showed positive effects in drug knowledge, reduced cigarette smoking, and altered peer perceptions.
- No significant intervention effects were observed for male students.
- The unstructured affective component of classroom management may present challenges.
Conclusions:
- Drug education interventions can be effective for adolescent females.
- Current prevention strategies may not adequately address male adolescent substance use risk factors.
- Further research is needed to refine drug education and classroom management strategies for diverse student populations.