Evaluation of a family-based substance abuse prevention program targeted for the middle school years

A family-based substance abuse prevention program was evaluated which empha sizes family cohesion, school and peer attachment, self-esteem, and attitud es about adolescent use of alcohol and tobacco. The program was implemented in rural communities and targeted families with students entering middle o r junior high school. Baseline surveys were conducted with students and par ents in four schools and were readministered one year later. Because the pr ogram was voluntary, a quasi-experimental design was used to compare partic ipants (29 students and 28 parents) and nonparticipants (268 students and 1 34 parents). Analyses of covariance indicated that student participants, as compared to nonparticipants, had higher family cohesion, less family fight ing, greater school attachment, higher self-esteem, and believed that alcoh ol should be consumed at an older age at the one year follow-up. There were fewer significant results for parent participants. Strategies for involvin g parents in prevention programs are discussed.