Meta-Analysis of Adolescent Drug Prevention Programs: Results of the 1993 Meta-Analysis (From Meta-Analysis of Drug Abuse Prevention Programs, P 5-68, 1997, William J. Bukoski, ed. -- See NCJ-176723)

• NCJ Number: 176724
• Author(s): N S Tobler
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 64 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This 1993 meta-analysis examined 120 school-based drug prevention programs that evaluated success on self-reported drug- use measures.

Abstract

Policy relevant conclusions emerge when meta-analytic techniques are used to achieve consensus out of the inconsistencies found in individual research studies. In the current meta-analysis, hypothesis tests were made of an a priori classification scheme for the type of program. Six types of programs were identified based on content and delivery; they were collapsed into noninteractive and interactive programs. Because programs varied from 20 to 6,000 students, both ordinary least squares regressions (unweighted effect size) and weighted least squares regressions (weighted effect size) were conducted. Six covariates were entered into the regressions: sample size, targeted drug, type of control group, special populations, type of leader, and attrition. The relationship between program content, delivery, and the size of the programs was examined. Findings show that interactive programs were significantly superior to the noninteractive programs in their ability to impact drug-use behaviors, and they were equally successful for tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. The effectiveness of the interactive programs was not only replicated, but increased with a subset of 56 high-quality experimental programs. 6 tables, 16 figures, 22 notes, and 74 references