Implementation and process evaluation of a student ''school-as-community'' group - A component of a school-based drug abuse prevention program

Little documentation exists regarding the functioning of formalized adolescent groups or; drug abase prevention agents. Two studies are described that were conducted at high schools whose students are of high risk for drug abuse Twenty-one schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (a) standard care, (b) classroom drug abuse education only, arte) classroom plus school-as-community. Results of the first study indicated that the school-as-community component-which involved weekly meetings and periodic events at seven schools-was implemented as planned drug abused focused and perceived as productive in discouraging drug abuse. In the second study, staff in the classroom plus school-as-community condition self-reported involvement in the greatest number of community activities across the school year; compared with staff from the other two conditions. These two studies support the feasibility of formalized groups of high-risk youth to promote drug-free events.