NCJ Number
189935
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 123-138
Date Published
2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined first-year outcomes of an alcohol preventive intervention in inner-city middle schools.
Abstract
Subjects were 650 sixth-grade students from one neighborhood inner-city school (n=262) and one bused school (n=388) in Jacksonville, FL. Subjects were randomly assigned by computer to either the intervention (STARS for Families Program) or a minimal intervention control within targeted schools. Students assigned to the intervention were provided with a brief one-on-one health consultation with a nurse during the fall semester and a series of up to 10 prevention postcards mailed to parents/guardians during the spring semester. Intervention materials included prevention messages that addressed specific stage status and risk and protective factors of individual youth, based on pre-intervention data collected with the Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey. Students assigned to the minimal intervention control condition were given a 15-page alcohol education booklet. Baseline (beginning fall semester) and posttest (concluding spring semester) data were obtained at the target school sites. At posttest, chi-square analyses showed that significantly fewer neighborhood intervention students initiated alcohol use, used alcohol during the past 7-day and 30-day periods, drank heavily during the past 30 days, and drank over any period of time compared to control students. Significant group prior alcohol consequences interaction effects were found for bused students, showing those with past alcohol consequences who received the intervention had less intentions to use alcohol and less frequent use of alcohol. These findings suggest that a brief, stage-based preventive intervention may result in significant reductions in alcohol initiation and consumption among some inner-city youth. 4 tables and 29 references