12TH GRADE FOLLOW-UP OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL-BASED SUBSTANCE-ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM

A twelfth-grade follow-up afforded the opportunity to assess the long- term effects of substance abuse prevention delivered in sixth and seve nth grades. A social pressures resistance skills curriculum implemente d by classroom teachers had been evaluated with short-term positive re sults previously reported. Students completed self-administered questi onnaires at sixth grade pre- and posttests, and at seventh and twelfth -grade posttests. Curriculum group students received lessons on alcoho l, tobacco (cigarettes and smokeless), marijuana, and cocaine, which w ere later incorporated into the Michigan Model for Comprehensive Schoo l Health Education. This evaluation used data from 262 students who co mpleted all four questionnaires and who received the complete two-year intervention or no intervention. Repeated measures analyses of varian ce demonstrated that significant effects evident at seventh grade for alcohol use and misuse, as well as cigarette, cocaine, and other drug use were generally not maintained through twelfth grade. Ongoing reinf orcement of effective prevention is recommended.