An evaluation of the alternatives approach to drug abuse prevention

An alternatives-oriented, school-based drug abuse prevention program, Positive Alternatives for Youth (PAY), was evaluated over a 2-year period. Using a random-assignment, pretest-posttest control group design, 135 PAY students and 106 control group students were assessed on several attitudinal and behavioral measures of drug use. During the first year significant differences were detected between PAY and control students. Fewer differences were found in the second year, although a special analysis showed evidence of impact on PAY students rated as more involved in program activities. Reasons for specific results are discussed and implications are drawn for the alternatives approach and the field of drug abuse prevention.