ENHANCING OUTCOMES IN AN INDICATED DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR HIGHRISE YOUTH

This study examined the net effects of refining a high school-based in dicated drug prevention program. The Personal Growth Class (PGC), tail ored to meet the needs of high-risk youth, was designed to increase co ntrol of drug use, school performance, and emotional well-being. The p rogram integrates social support and life-skills training. Process eva luation revealed the need for program enhancements to address underest imated levels of depression, anger, and suicidal behaviors prevalent a mong high-risk youth and to ensure that core content was being emphasi zed consistently. Youth participating in Late cohorts received the ref ined PGC with enhanced skills training. Study participants (N = 280) w ere youth, primarily ages fifteen to seventeen, at high-risk for schoo l failure or dropout. Indicators of emotional well-being (e.g., depres sion, stress, anger, self-esteem, personal control), drug involvement, and school performance were compared for Late versus Early cohorts. R egression analyses revealed the Late versus Early cohorts showed signi ficantly greater decreases in hard drug use, depression, perceived str ess, and anger; and greater increases in self-esteem. The results supp ort arguments that effective indicated prevention programs should targ et specific high-risk youth employing strategies to counteract the mul tifaceted risk factors they experience and enhance needed protective f actors.