Citation

Perry CL, Williams CL, Veblen-Mortenson S, Toomey TL, Komro KA, Anstine PS, McGovern PG, Finnegan JR, Forster JL, Wagenaar AC, Wolfson M. Am. J. Public Health 1996; 86(7): 956-965.

Affiliation

Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8669519

PMCID

PMC1380436

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Project Northland is an efficacy trial with the goal of preventing or reducing alcohol use among young adolescents by using a multilevel, communitywide approach. METHODS: Conducted in 24 school districts and adjacent communities in northeastern Minnesota since 1991, the intervention targets the class of 1998 (sixth-grade students in 1991) and has been implemented for 3 school years (1991 to 1994). The intervention consists of social-behavioral curricula in schools, peer leadership, parental involvement/education, and communitywide task force activities. Annual surveys of the class of 1998 measure alcohol use, tobacco use, and psychosocial factors. RESULTS: At the end of 3 years, students in the intervention school districts report less onset and prevalence of alcohol use than students in the reference districts. The differences were particularly notable among those who were nonusers at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The results of Project Northland suggest that multilevel, targeted prevention programs for young adolescents are effective in reducing alcohol use.

Language: en