NCJ Number
141627
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 28 Issue: 109 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 135-148
Date Published
1993
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the Under Pressure Program, an innovative communication-centered approach designed to involve Chicago public junior and senior high school students in considering the problems and prevention of adolescent substance abuse.
Abstract
The centerpiece of the program is a 30-minute live musical play, "Captain Clean," which incorporates extensive postperformance dialog and role play to explore the pressures and feelings of adolescents regarding substance abuse. This blend of live entertainment and applied learning techniques enables adolescents to understand the pressures they face and teaches them to make responsible choices, in addition to providing a tool for effective school and community substance abuse intervention. The goals of the program are to evaluate the effectiveness of live theater in preventing and intervening in adolescent substance abuse and to examine the effectiveness of live theater through postperformance dialog and role playing, in soliciting feedback from adolescents on their feelings about substance abuse and using school counselors and other available resources, and to build upon their recommendations for improving substance abuse prevention and intervention programs. The program is targeted at predominantly minority, low-income students who have been identified as "high risk." As of March 11, 1991, pretest data had been collected on 553 students (both experimental and control). Anecdotal and observational data from the postperformance discussion have been collected on 939 students. Summaries of the field notes indicate that the live theater presentation, with subsequent discussion and role play, does solicit feedback regarding the adolescents' feelings about substance abuse and using school counselors and other resources available to them. 18 references