New inroads in preventing adolescent drug use: results from a large-scale trial of project ALERT in middle schools.
OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the revised Project ALERT drug prevention program across a wide variety of Midwestern schools and communities.


METHODS
Fifty-five South Dakota middle schools were randomly assigned to program or control conditions. Treatment group students received 11 lessons in 7th grade and 3 more in 8th grade. Program effects for 4276 8th-graders were assessed 18 months after baseline.


RESULTS
The revised Project ALERT curriculum curbed cigarette and marijuana use initiation, current and regular cigarette use, and alcohol misuse. Reductions ranged from 19% to 39%. Program effects were not significant for initial and current drinking or for current and regular marijuana use.


CONCLUSIONS
School-based drug prevention programs can prevent occasional and more serious drug use, help low- to high-risk adolescents, and be effective in diverse school environments.