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Preventing Drug Use Among Youth Through Community Outreach: The Military's Pilot Programs

NCJ Number
165330
Author(s)
J P Caulkins; N Fitzgerald; K Model; H L Willis
Date Published
1994
Length
152 pages
Annotation
Pilot outreach programs conducted by the military to reduce the demand for illicit drugs among youth were evaluated with respect to their effectiveness.
Abstract
Information was collected by means of site visits; telephone interviews with program administrators, staff, participating youth, parents, and community leaders; a literature review; background research; and supporting calculations. Results revealed that the 12 programs varied immensely in size, location, focus, intensity, and funding. The programs were implemented successfully. Most cost the Office of the Secretary of Defense between $100 and $600 per youth per iteration or year. Programs' self-evaluations of cost per youth generally included only direct costs and did not include overhead costs of preparing and administering the programs. Mentoring and tutoring programs cost the least but used the most volunteer hours. Data were not available to determine the programs' effects on juvenile drug use, although they did permit estimates of how effective they would have to be for the projected reduction in social cost to outweigh the program cost. The programs appear to have had a modest impact on readiness, but these effects may have been partially offset by modest positive effects in morale, community relations, and other factors. Expanding the program by a factor of 20 would reach 200,000 youths and cost $100 million. Findings indicated that the six features that should be considered in establishing or expanding such programs. Among these are reliance on volunteers and modest size of individual programs. Tables, figure, and 79 references

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