PREVENTING ADOLESCENT DRUG-USE - LONG-TERM RESULTS OF A JUNIOR-HIGH PROGRAM

Objectives. Although several studies have reported short-term gains fo r drug-use prevention programs targeted at young adolescents, few have assessed the long-term effects of such programs. Such information is essential for judging how long prevention benefits last. This paper re ports results over a 6-year period for a multisite randomized trial th at achieved reductions in drug use during the junior high school years . Methods. The 11-lesson curriculum, which was tested in 30 schools in eight highly diverse West Coast communities, focused on helping 7th a nd 8th grade students develop the motivation and skills to resist drug s. Schools were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. About 4000 students were assessed in grade 7 and six times thereafter through grade 12. Program effects were adjusted for pretest covariate s and school effects. Results. Once the lessons stopped, the program's effects on drug use stopped. Effects on cognitive risk factors persis ted for a longer time (many through grade 10), but were not sufficient to produce corresponding reductions in use.Conclusions. It is unlikel y that early prevention gains can be maintained without additional pre vention efforts during high school. Future research is needed to devel op and test such efforts.