NCJ Number
68870
Date Published
1975
Length
143 pages
Annotation
PRIMARY DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS WERE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE THE MOST RELIABLE PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, THE MAIN EVALUATION DEFECTS, THE MOST PROMISING PREVENTION STRATEGIES, AND THE MOST PROMISING EVALUATION APPROACHES.
Abstract
MOST OF THE 29 PROJECTS ADDRESSED YOUTHS IN THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. FOUR CRITERIA (CERTAINTY, RELEVANCE, USEFULNESS, AND CLARITY) WERE USED TO JUDGE THE EVALUATIONS. EVALUATION FINDINGS INDICATED THE NEED FOR SPECIAL PREVENTION TECHNIQUES IN LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS, AND A GROWING CONSENSUS THAT SUCH TECHNIQUES MUST HELP INDIVIDUALS DEAL WITH PRESSURES TO ABUSE DRUGS. FINDINGS ALSO SUPPORTED THE BELIEF THAT TRADITIONAL DRUG EDUCATION APPROACHES DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD; THAT SUPERFICIAL PROGRAMS PROVIDING A FEW HOURS OF EXPOSURE TO PREVENTION MESSAGES ARE ALSO FUTILE; AND THAT THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAT CAN REASONABLY BE GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE A PRIMARY PREVENTION EFFORT WILL BE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT PRIMARY PREVENTION EFFORTS SHOULD DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED APPROACH TO ACCOUNTABILITY. IN ADDITION, CLEAR STATEMENTS OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND THE USE OF INDIVIDUALS AS THEIR OWN CONTROLS ARE VALUABLE TO EVALUATION. FURTHER, EVALUATORS HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED SATISFACTORY METHODS FOR MEASURING CHANGES WHICH VARY GREATLY FROM INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL AND WHICH INDICATE INCREASES IN MATURITY, ALTHOUGH THREE OF THE STUDIES PROVIDED PROMISING STRATEGIES IN THIS AREA. FINALLY, TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED EVALUATION METHODS DID NOT SERVE PREVENTION AS EFFECTIVELY AS DID SIMPLER METHODS. THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE'S SPECIAL ACTION OFFICE FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION. TABLES, FOOTNOTES, A LIST OF PROGRAMS EVALUATED, AND CHAPTER REFERENCE LISTS ARE INCLUDED.