Reports on the IBM Educational Systems' 1988 Schools Partnership Executive Conference that focused on what schools can do about the literacy problem. Highlights include computers in the classroom; the importance of success in early grades; bilingual education; dropout prevention; adult literacy; funding; substance abuse; and software for special…

Examined developmental and gender differences in relations between drug use and problem behavior. Found grade-related differences for 10 of the 18 substances investigated. Alcohol use showed the highest association with problem behavior. Girls who exhibited problem behaviors used or experimented with a wider variety of substances when compared to…

The article describes the Peer Health Education (PHE) programs of the University of California at Santa Barbara Student Health Service. The PHE programs involve training and placement components and focus on relationships, nutrition, eating disorders, stress and laughter, alcohol/drug responsibility, cold care, sexuality, leadership, blood…

Judy Gobert (Blackfeet/Salish) struggled with racism and sexual abuse in childhood and with substance abuse and family violence in adulthood. Traditional spirituality, belief in education, and support groups have helped her to heal herself and create a better life for her children and herself. Describes her doctoral research on drug-resistant…

Reviews studies of the effects of prenatal drug exposure on child development, and reviews ideal early intervention programs. Researchers agree that prenatal drug exposure is only one of many factors that can influence a child's development. Specialized treatment programs and family support can ameliorate prenatal drug exposure effects. (SLD)

Presents a conceptual framework that can be used to estimate the costs of prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Cost estimates that have been made are presented. It is obvious that preventing drug use or smoking should be a first priority of public policymakers. (SLD)

Describes a Department of Human Services project to research and recommend appropriate strategies to address the needs of boarder babies, infants prenatally exposed to substance abuse, and children living in substance abusing environments in the District of Columbia. Training seminars and the five project objectives are reviewed. (SLD)

Identifies psychological characteristics of 49 male and 8 female Latin American youth who were primarily responsible for their own lives. The subjects' capacities to adapt to their different environments and the conditions in which they live are discussed for their implications for social and substance abuse prevention programs. (SLD)

This study examines the association of demographic, psychological, and environmental characteristics of a sample of low socioeconomic status, Mexican American students and their reported use of nine substances. Results indicate that a specific combination of variables predicted both minor and major substances used. The authors offer suggestions…

Analyzes the results of a survey given 5th- through 12th-grade students in a small city school district. Respondents evaluated their schools' substance abuse prevention programs and also gave their views on the adequacy and fairness of school and legal punishments for common drug and alcohol offenses. (RJM)

Examines college substance abuse prevention and intervention programs in the framework of the elaboration likelihood model. Discusses the role of persuasion and recommends careful analysis of the relevance, construction, and delivery of messages about substance use and subsequent program evaluation. Recommendations for increasing program…

Studies the prevalence of self-reported drug use behavior related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the effects of school-based HIV instruction and HIV knowledge on these behaviors in a probability sample of 8,098 high school students. HIV knowledge and instruction may help sustain low drug use. (SLD)

Associations between parental and teacher reports of conduct problems at age eight and psychosocial outcomes at 18 were longitudinally examined with 1,265 New Zealand children. Overall, conduct problems at age eight predicted elevated rates of educational underachievement, juvenile offending, substance abuse/dependence, and mental health problems…

Data from Colorado Adoption Project were used to examine hypothesis that association between parental divorce and children's adjustment is mediated by genetic factors. Findings for psychopathology were consistent with an environmentally mediated explanation for the association. Findings for achievement and social adjustment were consistent with a…

Reports on the qualitative findings extracted from a study of over 3,700 teenagers from urban, suburban, and small city settings, describing the array of difficulties teenagers face today. The themes that emerged from the students' comments offer a compelling portrait of life as a teenager in the 1990s and help shape an agenda for understanding…