Even though attrition presents a serious threat to the validity of longitudinal research, there is a lack of standardization for reporting it. To examine the effectiveness of four tests for attrition -- two for external validity and two for internal validity -- the tests were applied to two large scale projects: the first, Project HASP, is a…

Research in the area of social cognition has suggesed that actual stimuli don't predict later judgments and responses as well as cognitive representations of and cognitive responses to those stimuli, in the form of attitudes, impressions, or causal attributions. To identify the factors most important in predicting adolescent smoking, a 4-year…

This book is primarily a guide and source directory to health education materials in 10 nationally recognized health risk areas: (1) stopping or reducing smoking; (2) improving nutrition; (3) controlling high blood pressure; (4) modifying alcohol intake or drinking habits; (5) increasing physical activity; (6) reducing stress; (7) detecting cancer…

This study was conducted to determine whether gender differences exist on a number of psychosocial variables that are correlated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. Subjects were 1,465 students from 22 schools in three regions of New York State who were in the seventh grade during the 1985-1986 school year. Students completed…

Tobacco companies have the ability to target their products to segmented audiences by advertising in specialty magazines. Segmentation is a means of providing audiences with ads appropriate to their behavioral, demographic, and psychological characteristics. Through a content analysis of cigarette advertising in 10 popular magazines, a study…

This text examines some of the problems and concerns surrounding drug use and abuse in society. The central theme is that alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are a part of our society and that our failure to deal with the resultant problems represents a betrayal to society. Education and prevention are stressed as the ultimate answer, but it is recognized…

The scaling procedures and the results obtained upon applying such procedures to the student self-report data collected in 1978-1979 are outlined in this report. The first section of the paper describes the two general scaling procedures: oblique multiple groups confirmatory factor analysis and Guttman scale analysis. The second section covers the…

This book presents a broad but indepth coverage of the subject of personal health. It is divided into seven parts in which the following topics are discussed: (1) the human personality, social behavior, emotional growth, mental health, and coping skills; (2) drug dependencies, alcoholism, use of tobacco, psychological dependencies; (3) sexuality,…

Describes a laboratory experiment in which Paramecium caudatum was used to demonstrate the toxic effect of cigarette smoke on the cilia of epithelium cells lining the trachea and bronchi of smokers. Provides background information and explains the procedure, including how to make a simple mechanical smoking device. (TW)

This report provides an analysis of recent findings on drug and alcohol use trends among girls. Data indicate that girls have caught up with boys in illicit drug and alcohol use and have actually surpassed boys in cigarette and prescription drug use. Also, more girls than boys are new users of substances. Marijuana is the illicit drug most widely…

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Systems monitor six categories of priority health risk behaviors among youth and young adults: (1) behaviors that contribute to intentional or unintentional injuries; (2) tobacco use (3) alcohol and other drug use; (4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases;…

This educational program, which includes a moderator's guide and a videotape, is designed to help educators teach media literacy skills regarding smoking to students in middle and early high school. The moderator's guide helps teachers conduct an engaging discussion and provide followup educational activities around the Smoke Screeners program…

This paper describes lessons learned while planning a statewide conference to increase the knowledge of tobacco control advocates and promote implementation of the Alabama Comprehensive Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Plan (Plan) within the state. The Plan has three overall goals: preventing youth from becoming tobacco users; promoting…

This policy guide reflects the concerns and priorities of education policymakers and administrators, addressing broad policy issues and focusing on physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco use prevention. Section 1, "Overview," reviews the issue and presents sample policies. Section 2, "The Art of Policymaking," discusses…

Examined drug abuse views and knowledge level of 135 Nigerian secondary school teachers through self-report questionnaire. Found that majority of teachers were never exposed to drug education as students whereas less than 20 percent have been exposed since qualifying as teachers. Provides suggestions on pattern and content of teacher-targeted drug…