Evaluation of Seven School-Based Prevention Programs: A Final Report on the Napa Project

Abstract

Described is a series of evaluation studies of seven school-based prevention programs, including four generic in-service teacher-training programs, two alternatives programs, and a drug education course. The programs were delivered to elementary or junior high students, and were evaluated individually and in several combinations or sequences, using rigorous research procedures and a comprehensive set of process and outcome measures. Only the drug education course showed any pattern of significant effects, and these were short-term and obtained only for girls. The findings call into question the efficacy of generic prevention programs, at least as such programs are commonly implemented.

Attrition in a Longitudinal Drug Abuse Prevention Study

“…Drug use prevention programs are usually evaluated with longitudinal designs, which facilitate assessment of longterm program impact (Botvin et al, 1980;Evans et al, 1981;Flay et al, 1989;Pentz et al, 1989;Schaps et al, 1986;Snow et al, 1992aSnow et al, , 1992b …”

Delinquency, substance abuse, and risk taking in middle‐class adolescents

“…Thus far, research has shown that educational and school-based programs for the prevention of alcohol use (Barnes, 1984) and substance abuse (Schaps, Moskowitz, Malvin, & Schaeffer, 1986), directed toward informing and educating individuals, are generally ineffective. At best, the programs may increase knowledge about alcohol and drug use, but they are much less effective in changing behavior, or even attitudes about drug use (Tobler, 1986).…”

The St-Louis du Parc Heart Health Project: a critical analysis of the reverse effects on smoking

“…D espite many successes in school based smoking prevention programmes, [1][2][3][4][5] several studies have suggested that such programmes are sometimes less effective than desired. Short term positive impacts tend to dissipate over time, [6][7][8][9] while several comprehensive prevention projects have failed to show positive effects.…”