Data from a 10 percent sample of fifth-twelfth grade students indicate that in four predominantly rural counties of Kentucky, children are exposed to smoking before fifth grade and to drinking by seventh grade. The Health Education/Risk Reduction Grant Program was implemented over a 3-year period in the four county school systems in an attempt to intervene in the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the program participants. Each program (smoking and alcohol) consisted of 6 hours of instruction over a 3-week period, twice per week, or over a 6-week period, once per week. The smoking program was presented to 1,400 fifth and sixth graders, while the alcohol program was presented to 1,350 seventh and eighth graders. To evaluate the programs' instruction, objectives, and evaluation instruments, pre- and post- questionnaires, assessing the students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, were completed by the participants. An analysis of questionnaire responses showed that for the alcohol program, seven of the nine program objectives were met, with students demonstrating a statistically significant change in knowledge on 17 of 18 items, in attitude on 11 of 18 items, and in behavior on 4 of 11 items. For the smoking program, 11 of 12 program objectives were met, with students demonstrating a statistically significant change in knowledge on 20 of 31 items, and in attitude and behavior on 20 of 30 items. (The statement of program objectives, the evaluation questionnaire, and questionnaire data are included in the report). (BL)