Predicting high risk adolescents' substance use over time: the role of parental monitoring.

We examined whether parental monitoring at baseline predicted subsequent substance use in a high-risk youth population. Students in 14 alternative high schools in Washington State completed self-report surveys at three time points over the course of 2 years. Primary analyses included 1,423 students aged 14-20 who lived with at least one parent or step-parent at baseline.

Are substance use prevention programs more effective in schools making adequate yearly progress? A study of Project ALERT.

This exploratory study sought to determine if a popular school-based drug prevention program might be effective in schools that are making adequate yearly progress (AYP). Thirty-four schools with grades 6 through 8 in 11 states were randomly assigned either to receive Project ALERT (n = 17) or to a control group (n = 17); of these, 10 intervention and nine control schools failed to make AYP. Students completed three self-report surveys.

Project success' effects on substance use-related attitudes and behaviors: a randomized controlled trial in alternative high schools.

Using a randomized controlled effectiveness trial, we examined the effects of Project SUCCESS on a range of secondary outcomes, including the program's mediating variables. Project SUCCESS, which is based both on the Theory of Reasoned Action and on Cognitive Behavior Theory, is a school-based substance use prevention program that targets high-risk students. We recruited two groups of alternative high schools in successive academic years, and randomly assigned schools in each group to either receive the intervention (n = 7) or serve as a control (n = 7).

Outlet density as a predictor of alcohol use in early adolescence.

Introduction: Recent national youth surveys suggest that alcohol availability plays a role in determining use. One measure of availability receiving recent attention is outlet density; however, few studies have examined the effects of outlet density in younger populations.

Methods: Data were collected from a national sample of the United States (N = 5,903) followed between 6th and 8th grades, as part of a study funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

Predicting adolescent substance use: the effects of depressed mood and positive expectancies.

This study examined whether sixth-graders' depressed mood and positive substance use expectancies predicted increases over the next two years in students' lifetime and 30-day cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use, and whether sixth graders' positive substance use expectancies moderated the relationship between baseline depressed mood and changes over the next two years in the use of these substances. Study data came from a randomized controlled trial of Project ALERT, a school-based substance use prevention program, in which students from 34 schools completed self-report surveys as sixth (n=5782), seventh (n=5065), and eighth graders (n=4940). Primary analyses were performed using Hierarchical Nonlinear Modeling.

The utility of keg registration laws: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Many states have implemented keg registration policies to reduce adolescent binge drinking and related consequences. We examined the association between the strength and comprehensiveness of these policies and measures of beer consumption in the general population and adolescent binge drinking, as well as drinking and driving.

Methods: Data concerning the presence and stringency of the states' keg registration laws were secured from the Alcohol Policy Information System.

Project ALERT's effects on adolescents' prodrug beliefs: a replication and extension study.

This article represents a replication and extension of previous studies of the effects of Project ALERT, a school-based substance use prevention program, on the prodrug beliefs of adolescents. Specifically, the authors' research examined Project ALERT's effects on adolescents' intentions to use substances in the future, beliefs about substance use consequences, normative beliefs, and resistance self-efficacy. In all, 34 schools with Grades 6 to 8 completed this randomized controlled trial and 71 Project ALERT instructors taught 11 core lessons to 6th graders and 3 booster lessons to 7th graders (one grade level earlier than in previous studies).

The effects of Project ALERT one year past curriculum completion.

School-based drug prevention curricula constitute the nation's most prevalent strategy to prevent adolescent drug use. We evaluated the effects of one such curriculum, Project ALERT, on adolescent substance use. In particular, we sought to determine if a single effect on 30-day alcohol use, noted shortly following the completion of the 2-year program, could be detected 1 year later.

Project SUCCESS' effects on the substance use of alternative high school students.

Project SUCCESS is a selective and indicated substance use prevention program that targets high risk students in secondary school settings. We evaluated the effects of Project SUCCESS on adolescents' substance use immediately following program implementation, and again one year later. Two successive cohorts of alternative high schools were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group, yielding seven schools per condition.

Use of alcohol treatment and mental health services among adolescents with alcohol use disorders.

Objective: This study examined the use of and perceived need for alcohol treatment services among adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years) who received mental health services in the previous year compared with same-aged adolescents who did not receive such services.

Methods: Study data were drawn from the 2000 and 2001 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse. The authors conducted logistic regression analyses to identify the characteristics associated with the receipt of and perceived need for alcohol services among adolescents with alcohol use disorders.

Use of nitrite inhalants ("poppers") among American youth.

Purpose: We examined the patterns and correlates of nitrite inhalant use among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.

Methods: Study data were drawn from the 2000 and 2001 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse. Logistic regression was used to identify the characteristics associated with nitrite inhalant use.

Alcohol dependence and use of treatment services among women in the community.

Objective: This study examined the extent and characteristics of alcohol dependence and the perceived need for and use of alcohol treatment services among women compared with men in a nonclinical sample of adults 18-64 years of age.

Method: Data were drawn from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The authors calculated rates and correlates of alcohol dependence and treatment among adult alcohol users in this sample.