NCJ Number
208238
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 167-178
Date Published
2004
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a qualitative evaluation of a community-based adolescent alcohol prevention program conducted through a public-health partnership between the University of Medicine and Dentistry of the New Jersey School of Public Health and the city of Split, Croatia.
Abstract
The partnership began with a series of travel exchanges between the partners. Early exchanges focused on a needs assessment and included key informant interviews; meetings with local government representatives and community groups; and visits to local schools, health clinics, and hospitals. Through the needs assessment, the partnership identified high-risk behaviors among adolescents as the focus of the project. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted by the city to determine the prevalence of risk-taking behavior among adolescents. Findings showed that alcohol abuse was an emerging problem among adolescents in the city. This led to a program focus on both alcohol abuse and the need to strengthen primary and secondary prevention to empower adolescents and counteract negative societal change. The partners identified Project Northland (PN), a comprehensive program that involves many community sectors, as an appropriate intervention for Split. The first year of the 3-year intervention was implemented in the spring of 2002. PN is a school-based curriculum designed as a multilevel, multiyear program that has been proven to delay the age at which youth begin drinking. The curriculum teaches students the skills to identify and resist influences to use alcohol while encouraging alcohol-free alternatives. A total of 26 Split schools participated in the program. A strong network of nongovernmental organizations supported the project. Qualitative evaluation showed strong parent, teacher, and student satisfaction with the program, and preliminary analysis indicated a heightened awareness among students that will likely contribute to the program's success. 2 figures, 2 tables, and 10 references