MENU TITLE: Preventing Drug Abuse Among Youth. Series: OJJDP Published: June 1997 20 pages 28,066 bytes U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Preventing Drug Abuse Among Youth An Overview of Community-, Family-, and School-Based Programs ------------------------------ Broadcast Objectives This satellite teleconference is designed to: o Share promising program strategies related to drug abuse among youth. o Identify factors that put youth at risk for drug use. o Provide an opportunity for viewers to interact with experts and local project directors. ------------------------------ A Production of Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention U.S. Department of Justice in association with Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project Eastern Kentucky University Training Resource Center ------------------------------ Preventing Drug Abuse Among Youth OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference AGENDA June 12, 1997 Broadcast Time 1:30 p.m. (EDT) 12:30 p.m. (CDT) 11:30 a.m. (MDT) 10:30 a.m. (PDT) The following information is presented in this order: Activity Approximate Duration Timetable (ET) Preteleconference Activities (conducted by local facilitator) 30 minutes 1:00 - 1:30 Preteleconference activities should include familiarization with site surroundings, introduction of other participants, an introduction and program overview provided by the site facilitator, and a review of Participant Packet materials. 1. Test Slate 30 min. 1:00 - 1:30 2. Teleconference Begins -- 1:30 3. Drug Abuse Among Youth: An Overview 5 min. 1:30 - 1:35 4. Introduction by Gen. Barry McCaffery 2 min. 1:35 - 1:37 5. Opening Remarks 12 min. 1:37 - 1:49 6. Life Skills Training Program Introduction 1 min 1:49 - 1:50 7. Life Skills Training Program 10 min. 1:50 - 2:00 8. Discussion/Call In 20 min 2:00 - 2:20 9. Strengthening Families Program Introduction 1 min. 2:20 - 2:21 10. Strengthening Families Program, Denver, Colorado 10 min. 2:21 -2:31 11. Discussion/Call In 20 min 2:31 - 2:51 12. Break 10 min. 2:51 - 3:01 13. Communities Against Drugs Introduction 1 min. 3:01- 3:02 14. Communities Against Drugs, San Bernadino, California 5 min. 3:02-3:07 15. Discussion/Call In 20 min 3:07- 3:27 16. OJJDP Upcoming Events 2 min. 3:27- 3:29 17. Closing Credits 1 min. 3:29 - 3:30 18. Teleconference Ends -- 3:30 19. Postteleconference Call-In 30 min. 3:30 - 4:00 Postteleconference discussion should focus on key issues discussed in the program. ------------------------------ Preventing Drug Abuse Among Youth An Overview of Community-, Family-, and School- Based Programs Drug abuse among youth is a problem that is widespread and crosses all social, cultural and economic boundaries. Coupled with poor family life, low academic achievement or affiliation with deviant peers, drug abuse is shown to lead to delinquent or criminal behaviors. Drug abuse among youth is not a new problem in our Nation, but rather, one that has grown steadily in recent years and has resisted our best efforts to combat it (Johnston, 1996). Over the past two decades, several research studies have shown a strong link between crime, alcohol and illegal drug use. Over 50% of the juveniles incarcerated for criminal acts used alcohol or illegal drugs regularly before imprisonment. Nearly a third of those were under the influence of alcohol when they committed their most recent offense and about 40% were under the influence of illegal drugs (Simons, et al, 1991). Substance abuse among youth begins at an early age -- about 12 or 13 -- and typically follows a progressive path from the use of alcohol and tobacco to the use of marijuana and eventually to experimentation or regular use of other drugs such as cocaine, etc. More than half of the seventh- to twelfth-graders nationwide drink alcohol and almost 25% of those surveyed reported having used illicit drugs at some time in their lives. One in 15 teens reported currently using both alcohol and illegal drugs (Simons, et al, 1991). A study of cases in juvenile courts from 1985-1994 shows that drug offense cases involving possession or sale of marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs were up 82% from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, U.S. juvenile courts handled an estimated 120,000 delinquency cases involving drug violations. This same study reports that drug cases involving white juveniles increased 118% while the percentage of African- American youth increased 44% (Butts, 1997) These statistics indicate that when left to their own immature judgment and negative peer pressure, combined with poor family attachment, many youth stray into drug/alcohol abuse and crime. Intervention Strategies Many nonviolent, substance-abusing juvenile offenders repeatedly cycle through the juvenile system because of a lack of early intervention that would provide the sanctions and services necessary to change their behavior. To address this problem, some communities have established juvenile drug courts. Across the Nation, there are currently more than 244 drug court programs with 25 dedicated to juveniles. Local teams of judges, prosecutors, attorneys, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, and others are using the coercive power of the court to force abstinence and alter behavior with a combination of intensive judicial supervision, escalating sanctions, mandatory drug testing, treatment and strong aftercare programs (Robert, et al, 1997) Meanwhile, many researchers, in particularly those at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), are seeking out the origins and pathways of drug abuse to determine how the problem begins and how it progresses. The identification of risk factors associated with greater potential for drug use has shown that disruptions to the normal psychological and social development of an individual at an early age as well as chaotic home environments, ineffective parenting, and lack of mutual attachments and nurturing are very serious and potential factors which influence possible drug use. Inappropriate, shy, and aggressive behavior in the classroom; failure in school performance; poor social skills; affiliations with deviant peers; and perceptions of approval of drug-abusing behaviors in the school, peer, and community environments have been identified as risk factors relating to how children socialize and cope with school, peers, and community (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1997). NIDA research has identified several preventive or protective factors including: strong bonds with the family; experience of parental involvement and monitoring with clear rules of conduct; success in school performance; strong bonds with such prosocial institutions as family, school and religious organizations; and adoption of conventional norms about drug use. The impact of these protective factors varies according to the stage of the youth's development. Too little too late may mean the damage has already been done and the path to drug use and delinquent behavior may be set. The identification of these risk and protective factors have enabled NIDA to determine targets for prevention and intervention efforts including: family/peer relationships, school, and community environments. Each of these areas are crucial and essential to designing programs that will effectively combat the proliferation of adolescent drug use. Family/Peer Programs Prevention programs that target the family/peer relationships often focus on providing parents with effective parenting and communication skills. These programs encourage parents to set and maintain firm guidelines and rules for their children as well as taking a more active role in their lives and more closely monitoring their child's activities, including relationships with peers. Prevention programs focus on an individual's relationship to peers by developing social- competency skills, which involve improved communications, enhancement of peer relationships and social behaviors, and resistance skills to refuse drug offers. School Programs School-based prevention programs generally focus on efforts to enhance academic achievement; provide the youth with a sense of identity and achievement which will in turn strengthen the student's bonding to school; and reduce the drop out rate (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1997). Many school-based drug prevention/intervention programs attempt to achieve these goals through specialized curriculum paired with a normative education component that will enhance the development of a student's communication and social competency skills and provide them with an understanding of the negative physical, social and psychological effects of drugs. School-based drug programs should reach children from Kindergarten through 12th grade, but particularly during the critical years in middle school or junior high when many youth encounter new school environments and come into contact with new peers. "By the time many serious offenders reach high school, their characteristics (or patterns of behavior) are well established; they are resistant to changing their delinquent behavior and can successfully thwart efforts to do so." (Greenbaum, 1994). Community Programs Prevention programs work well if there is widespread support and commitment from all levels of the community, elected officials, the clergy, law enforcement, school officials and citizens. Efforts that encompass nearly every aspect of community life tend to be the most successful. "Community-based programs might include new laws and enforcement, advertising restrictions, and drug-free school zones, all of which are designed to provide a cleaner, safer, drug-free environment." (National Institute on Drug Abuse, March 1997). While many studies that have been conducted on the effects of adolescent drug abuse examine many different components and test diverse theories, the outcomes and recommendations tend to be quite similar. Prevention/intervention programs that begin targeting children in elementary school, programs that are based on the premise that delinquency progresses along a pathway from less to more serious forms of behavior, programs that are comprehensive and provide services that complement and reinforce one another, and programs that implement long range support goals tend to be the most effective. The following will highlight three promising programs, each taking a different approach to reducing drug abuse among youth. ------------------------------ Promising Programs Life Skills Training Program The Life Skills Training Program is a universal classroom program designed to reach the general population -- such as all children in a school. Designed by Dr. Gilbert Botvin of Cornell University Medical Center, the program addresses a wide range of risk and protective factors by teaching general personal and social skills in combination with drug resistance skills and normative education. The curriculum, aimed at students in grades 6-9, includes 15 sessions taught in school by regular classroom teachers in the sixth or seventh grades with 10 booster sessions provided in the eighth grade and five class sessions in the ninth grade. The five major components include: 1) Knowledge and information about cigarette smoking; 2) Decision-making; 3) Self-directed behavior change aimed at self- improvement; 4) Coping with anxiety; and 5) Social skills training on communication skills. The curriculum is based on an interactionist model that assumes there are multiple pathways leading to tobacco use, alcohol and drug use. The curriculum impacts on social risk factors including media influence and peer pressure as well as personal risk factors such as anxiety and low self-esteem. Personal self-management skills and social skills are taught to promote personal competence and decrease vulnerability and motivation to use drugs, and specific knowledge and skills related to the problem of drug abuse are provided. Over the past 16 years the Life Skills Training Program has been extensively studied. Results indicate that the approach can reduce tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use by 59 to 75 percent. The teleconference will highlight the Life Skills Training Project in Baltimore, Maryland. Strengthening Families Project The Denver Area Youth Services Strengthening Families Program is a selective, family-focused prevention program designed to provide programming to 6-12 year old children of substance abusers. The program began as an effort to enable substance- abusing parents improve their parenting skills and reduce their children's risk factors. The program has adapted Karol Kumpfer's Strengthening Families Program to be culturally appropriate to the Hispanic population within the Denver area. Much of the success of the program lies in its usage of indigenous, bicultural, bilingual staff to help families learn the dynamics of abuse and to develop cross-generational interventions. The Strengthening Families program is composed of three elements: a parent training program, a children's skills training program, and a family skills training program. In each of the 14 weekly sessions, parents and children are trained separately in the first hour and then come together during the second hour to discuss the various training topics. Following each session, the families share dinner and a film or other entertainment. Program evaluation has show an increase in effective communication skills, delayed onset of drug usage and increased interest in treatment. San Bernadino Communities Against Drugs, Inc. The San Bernadino Communities Against Drugs, Inc. (SBCAD) is a coalition of community and school- based groups that has successfully mobilized and attacked their local drug problem through a variety of prevention and intervention techniques. Since its Incorporation in 1986, SBCAD has developed 13 different programs touching the lives of over 250,000 youth and adults of diverse ethnic backgrounds. SBCAD targets a wide range of youth from intermediate to secondary grade levels across San Bernadino County. The philosophy of the SBCAD is to lower the drug, alcohol, and tobacco use among area youth by: 1) Harnessing the power of positive peer pressure to help young people lead drug-free lives. 2) Building self-esteem and self-awareness in youth. 3) Reaching a broad spectrum of youth. 4) Establishing new drug-free clubs and helping drug-free clubs on school campuses. 5) Educating youth about the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. 6) Coordinating with other organizations and agencies. 7) Teaching youth leadership and responsibility. 8) Providing positive drug-free alternatives. 9) Raising the awareness of adults and youth on drugs and alcohol. The SBCAD program involves not only youth, but parents, local businesses, law enforcement, local government, and other concerned citizens all working together to create a drug-free community. The organization relies heavily on its Speakers Bureau, which is comprised of local teenagers, to make presentations and address audiences of other youth and adults to increase drug awareness and promote the many activities of the organization. The SBCAD hosts a variety of activities and conferences for area youth each year with the only requirement for participation being that all events are completely free of the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. ------------------------------ REFERENCES Greenbaum, S. (1994). Drugs, Delinquency and Other Data. Juvenile Justice: A Journal of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Vol. II, No. 1, pp. 2-8. Simons, J.M., Finlay, B., Yang, A., (1991). Substance Abuse, Crime and Victimization, The Adolescent and Young Adult Fact Book, Children's Defense Fund, pp. 73-93. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1997). Preventing Drug Abuse Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide (NIH Publication No. 97-4212). Rockville, MD: Author. Butts, J.A., (1997). Drug Offense Cases in Juvenile Court, 1985-1994 Fact Sheet, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Robert, M., Brophy, J., Cooper, C., (1997). The Juvenile Drug Court Movement Fact Sheet, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Huizinga, D., Loeber, R., Thornberry, T.P.,(1994). Urban Delinquency and Substance Abuse-Initial Findings, Research Summary, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. Johnston, Lloyd D. (1996). Monitoring the Future Study: Rise in Drug Use. Washington, D.C. Many of the above publications can be obtained by contacting the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20850. 800-638-8736. ------------------------------ TELEPHONE PROTOCOL The telephone is a key component in allowing participants to communicate with the panelists in the television studios. The questions that are asked and comments that are made generally reflect what many others are thinking and provide perspective and depth to the teleconference. We will try to get as many calls on the air as possible. If you call in, please be patient. Our operators may be handling other calls. The following information will assist you. 1. If the phone is in the same room as the TV(s), you should be ready to lower the volume before you go on the air to reduce noisy feedback. 2. Dial the following number to ask a question or make a comment: 1-800-895-4584. 3. When your call is answered, please state your question to the operator briefly and clearly. YOU WILL BE PUT ON HOLD. 4. When you are to be put on the air, another operator will come on the line and ask your home State. She will inform you when you are next on the air and that this would be a good time to turn down the sound on your TV. PLEASE TURN DOWN THE SOUND ON YOUR TV. 5. When you are on the air, please state your name, city and State and ask your question loudly and clearly. 6. After you have finished with your conversation, please hang up. **CELLULAR PHONES** Please do not use cellular phones to place your calls. Cellular phones may produce static interference that may result in your being disconnected. ------------------------------ Prior Satellite Teleconferences Produced by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Conditions of Confinement in Juvenile Corrections and Detention Facilities September 1993 Community Collaboration June 1995 Effective Programs for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders October 1995 Youth-Oriented Community Policing December 1995 Juvenile Boot Camps February 1996 Conflict Resolution for Youth May 1996 Reducing Youth Gun Violence August 1996 Youth Out of the Education Mainstream October 1996 Has the Juvenile Court Outlived Its Usefulness? December 1996 Youth Gangs in America March 1997 For Further Information For videos of previous OJJDP teleconferences, please contact the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, PO Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; call 800-638-8736; fax 301-251-5212; or e-mail askncjrs@ncjrs.org. For information on future OJJDP programs, contact the Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project, Eastern Kentucky University, 301 Perkins Building, Richmond, KY 40475-3127; call 606-622-6671; fax 606-622-2333; or e-mail njdadeh@aol.com. ------------------------------ Drug Abuse Among Youth OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference PROGRAM PANELISTS Shay Bilchik, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20531; PH: 202-307-5911; Fax: 202-514-6382 Mr. Bilchik was confirmed by the United States Senate as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 1994. Prior to that time, he served as Associate Deputy Attorney General. Mr. Bilchick's career began in the State of Florida where he worked 17 years as a prosecutor. He served as a Chief Assistant State Attorney and as the coordinator of many special programs, including all juvenile operations as the Police-Juvenile Prosecutor Liaison and the School- Juvenile Prosecutor Liaison. Alan Leshner, Ph.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Office of the Director, 5600 Fishers Lane-Room 10-05, Rockville, Maryland 20857; PH: 301-443-6090; Fax: 301-443-9127 Dr. Leshner was appointed Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in February 1994. Prior to coming to NIDA, Dr. Leshner served as the Deputy Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) since 1988. Dr. Leshner went to NIMH from the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he held a variety of senior positions focusing on basic research on the biological, behavioral and social sciences, and on science education. Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D., Attending Psychologist, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 411 East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021; PH: 212-746-1270; Fax: 212-746-8390 Dr. Botvin was appointed the Attending Psychologist at Cornell Medical Center in 1991. In addition, he currently serves as a full professor at Cornell University Medical College in the Departments of Public Health and Psychiatry as well as a professor for the Program of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research in the Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Donna Martinez, Prevention Specialist, Denver Area Youth Services-Strengthening Families Program, 1240 West Bayaud Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80223; PH: 303-698-2300 Fax: 303-698-2903 Donna Martinez has served as the Prevention Specialist and Substance Abuse Coordinator for D.A.Y.S. since 1989. Her responsibilities have included coordinating programs for substance- abusing pregnant teens as well as the Family Strengthening Program designed to assist children and families at-risk of substance abuse. Jerilyn Simpson, President/CEO, San Bernadino Communities Against Drugs, Inc., 234 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernadino, California 92408 PH: 909-885-0509; Fax: 909-889-6512 Ms. Simpson was appointed as the President/CEO of SBCAD in October 1986. The non-profit organization is designed to find workable solutions to the community's drug problems. Ms. Simpson and her staff interact with leaders from diverse sectors of the community to coordinate the organization's efforts and to foster community awareness through active involvement with other local, state and national organizations. Mathea Falco, J.D., President, Drug Strategies, 2445 M Street, NW, Suite 480, Washington, D.C. 20037; PH: 202-663-6090; Fax: 202-663-6110 Ms. Falco is the President of Drug Strategies, a new non-profit initiative to identify effective approaches to substance abuse. As the author of The Making of a Drug-Free America: Programs that Work (Times Books, 1994), Ms. Falco comments frequently on drug policy in the media and in public speeches across the country. Prior to her most recent appointment, Ms. Falco served as the Director of Health Policy for the Department of Public Health at Cornell University Medical College. Mindy Shannon Phelps (Moderator) Ms. Phelps is moderating her second OJJDP national satellite teleconference. Her professional experience includes serving as a co-anchor of WLEX- TV's evening news. WLEX is an NBC affiliate located in Lexington, Kentucky. Ms. Phelps has also served as Press Secretary for the Governor's Office in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Drug Abuse Among Youth ------------------------------ TELECONFERENCE DATA AND EVALUATION FORM Directions: Please provide the information requested in this questionnaire regarding teleconference evaluation. Part I: PARTICIPANT INFORMATION 1. Gender o Male o Female 2. Age o 20-30 o 31-40 o 41-50 o 51 & above 3. College Degree o None o BA/BS o MA/MS o Doctorate o Other (Describe): 4. Current Position o Upper Management o Mid-Management o Line Staff o Other (Describe): 5. Years in Current Position o 3 or Less o 4-6 o 7-10 o More than 10 6. Years Experience in Youth-Related Programs o 3 or Less o 4-6 o 7-10 o More than 10 PART II: CONFERENCE EVALUATION (Circle the number that best reflects your rating.) Strongly Disagree = 1 Strongly Agree = 5 7. Local Site Facilitation -- The facilitator was knowledgeable and responsive to participants' concerns. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 8. Participant Materials -- The material complemented the program. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 9. Viewing Site -- The conference room was comfortable and appropriately arranged for clear viewing and hearing. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 10. Television Sound -- The televised sound was audible and clear. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 11. Broadcast Reception -- The television image was sharp. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 12. Television Visuals -- All visuals were readable and clear (charts, graphics, diagrams, etc.). o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 13. Panelist Effectiveness -- Topic -- The panelists were knowledgeable about the topic. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 14. Panelist Effectiveness -- Implementation -- The panelists were knowledgeable about program implementation. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 15. Panelist Effectiveness -- Delivery -- The panelists were clear and effective in presenting their points. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 16.Presentation of New Ideas -- I acquired new knowledge, information, and ideas. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 Teleconference Evaluation Form Broadcast Date: June 12, 1997 17. Overall Effectiveness of the Medium (teleconference) -- The teleconference medium was an effective information dissemination tool. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 18. Comparative Effectiveness of the Medium -- As compared to traditional delivery (speakers, materials), the teleconference was more effective for me as a means of acquiring new knowledge. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 19. Future Use of Video Teleconference Programming -- Video teleconferences should be used for future training and information dissemination by OJJDP. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 Part III: ANTICIPATED APPLICATION OF NEW IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION GAINED THROUGH TELECONFERENCE 20. I anticipate being able to apply knowledge gained o Never o Immediately o Within 1-6 months o Within 7-12 months o After at least one year 21. Implementation of new ideas/knowledge in my organization/agency/program depends on o Self only o Supervisor o Head of organization/agency/program o Legislation o Other ( Describe): Part IV: ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY 22. What did you find most beneficial about this teleconference? 23. How could the teleconference have been more productive and worthwhile for you? 24. What topics would you like to see covered in future teleconferences? 25. Additional comments: Please return this evaluation form to your facilitator