PEER PARTICIPATION IN PROJECT NORTHLAND - A COMMUNITY-WIDE ALCOHOL-USE PREVENTION PROJECT

This paper describes the rationale, conceptual framework, and program components of a peer participation program for prevention of alcohol u se among young adolescents. The peer participation program was one com ponent of Project Northland, a community-wide program that seeks to pr event or delay onset of alcohol use among a cohort of young adolescent s. The peer participation program, implemented in 20 northeastern Minn esota schools when students were in seventh grade, consisted of studen t groups who planned supervised, alcohol-free activities for themselve s and their classmates. Program goals included 1) providing peer leade rship and social support for non-use of alcohol, 2) creating opportuni ties for alternative behaviors to alcohol use, thereby 3) creating a n orm of non-use among young adolescents.