SUBSTANCE-ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM IN SCH OOLS

This article presents short-term results of a programme aimed at preve nting substance abuse in girls with and without psychosocial problems. The programme employed is a modified version of Botvin and colleagues ' Life Skills Training; it was administered over a 2-year period, in t wo phases. Each phrase consisted of workshops pertaining to the develo pment of personal and social skills. Added to the original programme w as a token economy whereby positive reinforcements were given for part icipation in the programme both during the workshops and for homework completed. A total of 71 girls between the ages 11 and 12 years partic ipated in the programme when they were in fifth and sixth grades. A to tal of 27 girls served as a control group, i.e. they were evaluated at pre- and post-test but did not participate in the programme. Some of the girls in each group had psychosocial problems (i.e. behavioural di fficulties, peer rejection), whereas some of the girls in each group d id not. The results showed that the prevention programme influenced kn owledge regarding cigarettes, attitudes towards cigarettes and marijua na, as well as use of alcohol and marijuana. These positive results we re evident for girls with and without behavioural problems. The advant ages and limits of this type of prevention programme are highlighted.