The U.S. Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program recently promulgated four "Principles of Effectiveness,” of which the third requires school districts to select prevention strategies "based on research or evaluation that provides evidence that [they] prevent or reduce drug use...." Given prior research demonstrating the continued use of such largely ineffective curricula as DARE, it is important to understand the extent to which such programs remain prevalent. In this study we estimate the prevalence of specific curricula used in the nation's middle schools. In addition, we report:
--the proportion that have received information about these principles,
--the prevalence of various prevention curricula used in the classroom,
--the relative effectiveness of these curricula, and, among those using ineffective curricula,
--the proportion indicating their intent to adopt one that is based on research or evaluation evidence.
Data for this study were collected in 1999 by means of questionnaires sent to a nationally representative sample of lead teachers of prevention curricula in 2,680 middle schools, of whom 72.4 % completed surveys. We will address the relative effectiveness of the curricula implemented by utilizing the assessments of the updated "Making the Grade: A Guide to School Drug Prevention Programs," published by Drug Strategies. Study results will indicate the extent of the gap between prevention science and middle school practice, and indicate the need for our field to attend to issues pertaining to the diffusion of information concerning effective curricula.
Learning Objectives: The session attender will: --understand the four principles of effectiveness of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education; and --know the proportion of middle schools nationwide implementing specific classroom-based drug prevention curricula; and --know the proportion of middle schools implementing relatively ineffective curricula
Keywords: Substance Abuse Prevention, School-Based Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.