Too Good For Drugs

 

OVERVIEW

Too Good for Drugs is a drug prevention program for middle school students that focuses on increasing resistance skills, communication skills, knowledge about the consequences of drugs, and knowledge about the prevalence of drug use.  This random assignment study found significant decreases in intention to use alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among the students randomly assigned to the treatment group.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target Population Middle school students

 

Too Good for Drugs is an alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drug prevention program designed to develop (1) resistance skills towards drugs, (2) goal-setting, decision-making, assertiveness, and communication skills, (3) knowledge about the negative consequences of drug use and benefits of being drug-free, and (4) knowledge about the prevalence of drug use in comparison to perceptions.  The interactive lessons can be delivered by trained classroom teachers or program instructors during the school day in a 40-50 minute lesson once a week over nine weeks..  During lessons, students participate in role-play activities, cooperative learning, games, and discussions.  Students receive recognition for their involvement and contributions to the lessons.

 

The program kit costs approximately $100, depending on grade.  Various other materials such as posters, workbooks, and CDs are available and range in cost from $10 to $50.

 

EVALUATION OF PROGRAM

 

Bacon, T. P. (2000). The effects of the Too Good for Drugs II drug prevention program on students' substance use intentions and risk and protective factors. Research Bulletin, 31(3 & 4), 1-25.

 

Evaluated Population: One thousand three hundred eighteen sixth grade students from six schools in a Florida school district participated in this evaluation.  The sample was 52% female and was 48% white, 33% African American, 13% Hispanic, and 6% Asian.  Fifty-one percent of the sample received free or reduced lunch.  

 

Approach: The middle schools in the district were stratified based on Florida state criteria of academic performance, learning environment, and student characteristics, location, and school size.  Two schools were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control groups in each of the three levels of stratification.  Intervention group schools participated in the program during the first quarter of the school year, while the control group schools waited until the fourth quarter of the school year to participate.  Students were assessed at post-test and at a 20-week follow-up on their intention to use tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana and risk factors regarding susceptibility to substance use.

 

Results: At post-test, the intervention group had a significantly lower likelihood of tobacco use intentions compared with the control group (8% vs. 12%).  There was no significant difference on tobacco use intention between groups at the 20-week follow up.  At post-test, the intervention group had a significantly lower alcohol use intentions when compared with the control group (10% vs. 16%).  Again, though, there was no significant difference on alcohol use intention between groups at the 20-week follow up.  For intention to use marijuana, there was no significant impact at post-test; however, at the 20-week follow-up, the treatment group was significantly less likely to use marijuana when compared with the control group (12% vs. 17%).

 

At post-test and follow-up, treatment group students had significantly more positive scores on resistance skills, knowledge of peer norms, peer disapproval of drug use, and locus of control when compared with the control group.  Scores on negative attitude towards drug use and prosocial peer group were significantly higher for the treatment group at post-test but did not remain significant at 20-week follow-up.

 

SOURCES FOR INFORMATION

 

Curriculum and cost information available here:

http://www.mendezfoundation.net/too-good/Too-Good-for-Drugs-K-8.php

 

References

Bacon, T. P. (2000). The effects of the Too Good for Drugs II drug prevention program on students' substance use intentions and risk and protective factors. Research Bulletin, 31(3 & 4), 1-25.

 

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant ages: 11-12

 

Program components: School-based

 

Measured outcomes: Behavioral problems

 

KEYWORDS: School-based, Children, Adolescents, Middle School, Co-ed, White, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Alcohol use, Tobacco use, Any Substance use, Marijuana/Illicit/Prescription Drugs, Self-esteem/Self Concept.

 

 

Program information last updated on 2/24/10.

 

		© Child Trends 2004