This monograph consists of statements about problems confronting schools today, their implications for the school nurse, and rationales for the nurses role in attempting to resolve these concerns of children and youth today. The topics which illustrate the relationship between school nursing and contemporary critical issues include smoking,…

Suggests that the difference between the pre- and post-actual SDA (smoking, drug, alcohol) behavior of experimental and control groups be used as a major criterion for short-term effectiveness evaluation of SDA preventive education programs aimed at high school adolescents. Results and data analysis of a case study support this methodology.…

This paper presents an exploratory analysis using NLSY97 data of the relationship between the likelihood of school continuation and the choices of whether to smoke or drink. We demonstrate that in the United States as of the late 1990s, smoking in 11th-grade was a uniquely powerful predictor of whether the student finished high school, and if so…

Despite the increased use of cigarettes among college students, there is evidence to suggest that anti-smoking norms still predominate among both students and faculty. In order to assess the prejudice against college students who smoke, relative to that associated with membership in other disparaged groups, a sample of 99 college students were…

This 35th annual report of national normative data on college freshmen is part of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) longitudinal study to assess the effects of college on students. The freshman data reported here are weighted to provide a normative profile of the U.S. freshman population for use in policy analysis, human…

This report describes research undertaken to assess the attitudes of teenagers and those who most influence them--their parents, teachers, and school principals. The research attempted to identify factors that could increase or diminish the likelihood teenagers would use cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs. Parents were identified as the key to…

This report details the results of the 1998 Idaho Substance Use and School Climate Survey, conducted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory for the Idaho Department of Education. Sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students were asked about the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, as well as about their perceptions of the…

A study was conducted to determine variables which would predict smoking among 297 seventh graders and to test the validity of the variables in a followup one year later. The most valid predictors were number of friends and siblings who smoked and the intention to smoke in the future. (PP)

A smoking prevention program consisting of eight one-hour sessions was conducted with seventh- and eighth-grade students focusing on resisting peer pressure and understanding the role of mass media in encouraging smoking. One year after the program, the proportion of nonsmoking students remained higher among program participants. (FG)

A study evaluated the effectiveness of a heart health inservice workshop by examining the health behaviors of students of the teachers attending the workshops. Results indicate that teachers attending the workshop were more motivated to improve their own behavior in order to improve the heart health behavior of their students. (JN)

Reports three methodological problems found in evaluating five risk reduction projects in Florida. Found that activities aimed at producing positive self-awareness and exposure to rewarding nondrug activities taught with a mixture of didactic and discussion methods and exercises are best. (Author/JAC)

Investigated youthful drug use in a rural community. Examined the nature and extent of the drug problem extant in the community. Investigated the reasons cited for using drugs. Examined the characteristics of abstainers and their reasons for nonuse and compared this group with former drug users. (Author/RC)

Results suggest that older teenagers may cut down on their own smoking when they are involved in efforts to change the smoking behavior of younger teens. Concludes that an antismoking campaign within the context of a school curriculum might be effective in changing the smoking behavior of teenagers. (PD)

Describes the national antismoking campaign in terms of various school projects funded by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, coordinated by its new Office on Smoking and Health. Projects include utilizing peer counselors, demonstrating what smoking does to the body, and showing how to deal with social pressures. (MF)

This paper examines the history and future of health education. Data from an American Cancer Society study exemplify how well-designed, carefully conducted research can impact current understanding and future decisions in health education. Health educators' roles in making health education a national priority are discussed. (SM)