RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN AN ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAM AT 2 INNER-CITY MIDDLE SCHOOLS

This study examined recruitment within an alcohol prevention program a t two diverse inner-city schools and retention of these students throu gh follow-up at one month and one pear. Subjects in Cohort I included 211 sixth grade students from one inner-city. neighborhood school. Sub jects in Cohort 2 included 650 sixth grade students from one neighborh ood school (n = 388) and one magnet (bused) school (n = 262). Recruitm ent rates differed between the two Cohort 2 urban schools. However, wh en eligibility criteria were considered, recruitment rates were nearly identical. At one-month posttest, dropouts were more at risk for alco hol use initiation than nondropouts. At one-year follow-up, dropouts w ere more likely to initiate alcohol and smokeless tobacco, and had gre ater total risk factors for alcohol use. These findings indicate the n eed to establish eligibility requirements, conduct aggressive recruitm ent and follow-up to minimize subject attrition, and establish program ming that targets students nor recruited or retained when using standa rd protocols.