Prevention of Adolescent Alcohol Misuse: An Elementary School Program

• NCJ Number: 117975
• Journal: Journal of Pediatric Psychology Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1986) Pages: 259-282
• Author(s): T E Dielman; J T Shope; A T Butchart; P C Campanelli
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): AA06324
• Sponsoring Agency: New York City Dept of Probation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using a social learning approach, this study focuses on teaching the acquisition of behavioral skills to resist the pressures to abuse alcohol.

Abstract

This alcohol misuse prevention study (AMPS) was developed, implemented, and evaluated in 213 fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms in six school districts. The program was composed of four sessions focusing on the immediate effects of alcohol, risks of alcohol misuse, and social pressures to misuse alcohol. An emphasis was placed on social skills to resist peer pressure to misuse alcohol. The first posttest results showed that students in the treatment group demonstrated significantly greater awareness of the curriculum content than did the control groups. The results also showed that alcohol use and misuse were not significantly different between the treatment and control groups due to the low prevalence in both groups. The results were obtained an average of eight weeks after the sessions were completed. The effect of the AMPS program on the treatment group students use and misuse is expected to appear later. 6 Tables, 1 Figure, 57 References. (Author abstract modified)