AN OUTCOME EVALUATION OF THE WOODROCK YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Woodrock Youth Development Project (YDP) aims to reduce alcohol to bacco, and drug (ATOD) use among adolescents. The YDP targets risk fac tors that predispose youth to substance abuse, such as low self-esteem unhealthy attitudes toward substance abuse, and lack of knowledge abo ut drug effects. The YDP aims to improve problem-solving and coping sk ills, to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, and to improve self-perception through increasing academic achievement as wel l as fostering a sense of cultural pride. Participation in the YDP was shown to reduce the incidence of drug use. Among younger (6 through 9 years of age) participants, the program improved interracial relation s and marginally boosted self-esteem and knowledge about ATOD use. Fur ther research is needed, however; to determine why the program failed to produce improvements in these latter attitudinal risk factors among older (10 through 14 years of age) respondents.