This testimony by the Director of Education and Employment Issues of the Health, Education, and Human Services Division of the General Accounting Office (GAO) is based on a number of GAO studies of substance abuse and violence prevention programs for youth. The testimony focuses on: (1) the information available about substance-abuse and…

In today's complicated world, it is difficult to raise healthy, safe, and drug-free children. The Portland Touchstone Project tries to address this challenge by improving the resiliency of at-risk youth. The program is described in this report. It is based on a model that attempts to strengthen families and increase safety, security, and stability…

The Portland Touchstone Project is a school-based integrated services program that focuses on alcohol and drug prevention by developing family strengths, by improving family relationships, and by enhancing the resiliency of at-risk youth. Information on project activities, guidelines for future development, and an evaluation of the program from…

This study examined the relationship between six dimensions of parental marital conflict and adolescent health risk behaviors, including substance abuse and sexual activity. Subjects were 151 European American adolescents and 110 Mexican American adolescents, ages 12-15, and their parents. Parents reported on their inter-parental conflict at…

According to a recent national survey, 9 out of 10 high school students in the United States reported that they had tried alcohol at least once. Previous research has identified drug resistance self-efficacy (DRSE) as an important construct in adolescent drug use, which is the focus of this research study. A total of 361 students in grades 9-12…

In 1987, the state of Washington created a program--the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA)--to treat adults addicted to alcohol or other drugs. This paper sows the results of a four-and-a-half year follow-up study of clients receiving treatment and reviews the effectiveness of ADATSA. Whereas the immediate goal of the…

Enacted by Congress in 1986, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 (DFSCA) has been the federal government's primary effort to support drug education and prevention for school-aged youth. The findings from the fourth biennial survey, covering the performance period 1993-95, are presented in this report. Nearly all school districts in…

This curriculum is designed to help schools implement programs to prevent violence among students in grades 6-12. It is a six-session, school based curriculum intended for adolescents who are living in communities experiencing high rates of violence. It is facilitated by trained Teens on Target (TNT) members/peer educators, young people who are…

CASAWORKS for Families is the first national demonstration program to provide simultaneously drug and alcohol treatment; literacy, job, parenting, and social skills training; family violence prevention; and health care to help substance-abusing welfare parents recover. Its mission is to help women on welfare with substance abuse problems achieve…

Protective factors were ingrained in the traditional Nez Perce way of life. The imposition of the White way of life introduced alcohol, suppressed protective factors, and facilitated the development of risk factors across all domains. For the past decade, the tribe has obtained federal funding for a variety of substance abuse prevention programs.…

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…

Substance abuse continues to be one of the most damaging and chronic health problems faced by Indian people. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) substance abuse prevention and treatment programs must be framed within the broader context of the widening health disparities between AI/AN communities and the general population. Successful…

This booklet is designed to be used by teachers in elementary schools with the Public Broadcasting Systems series "Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home." The series explores the science, treatment, prevention, and politics of addiction. This booklet discusses strategies for preventing substance abuse in elementary school. Also examined are…

This report documents the proceedings of a two-day hearing held in Utah to begin a public dialogue on how professionals can work together to combat the dangers of substance abuse problems among adolescents. The introductory comments by the presiding chairman, Senator Orin Hatch, spell out the present problem in Utah. The senator points out how…

This study tracked the careers, over 2 years, of 193 young English people (particularly at-risk groups) after their permanent exclusion from mainstream schools during 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. The study investigated the impact of pre- and post-exclusion processes, provisions, and outcomes on these young people's life-chances and wider indicators…