NCJ Number
117191
Date Published
1986
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This overview of State alcohol and drug prevention approaches for youth discusses the changing prevention focus, statewide curricula, community-based efforts, legislative initiatives, and future directions.
Abstract
As the Federal Government becomes less directly involved in services delivery, the States' role in funding allocation and technical assistance for prevention programming will become increasingly crucial. In most States, prevention focuses on both drug and alcohol problems. Youth-oriented activities sponsored by the States include development of State criteria for alcohol and drug education curricula in the schools, training, technical assistance, development of prevention materials, and the establishment of prevention networks. The prevention focus has changed from 'scare' tactics to a combination of cognitive and affective methods designed both to inform students and to encourage them to examine their attitudes, values, and beliefs about alcohol use. This article describes statewide drug and alcohol education curricula in Alaska, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. Among the community-based efforts described are media campaigns; the Channel One program, which promotes alternatives to drug use among youth; and the systems approach, which involves community and family members in developing and planning prevention activities. A central legislative initiative in the States is the raising of the minimum drinking age. Future directions will focus on the strengthening of prevention program evaluation data. 4 references.