Citation

Schinke SP, Schwinn TM, Ozanian AJ. J. Prev. Interv. Community 2005; 29(1/2): 117-130.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J005v29n01_08

PMID

16804562

PMCID

PMC1483065

Abstract

This study examined the feasibility of a CD-ROM intervention to prevent alcohol abuse among high-risk youths. Youths from 41 community-based agencies in greater New York City participated in a randomized trial of a skills-based interactive CD-ROM. Outcome data were collected on 489 early adolescents in these agencies before and after a randomized subset of youths interacted with a 10-session alcohol abuse prevention program on CD-ROM. Compared to control participants, youths in the intervention arm had a positive increase in perceived harm of alcohol use and increased assertiveness skills. At posttest, drinking rates for control and intervention participants were equal and unchanged from pretest. These findings suggest that CD-ROM technology offers a new and promising medium for engaging high-risk youth in an alcohol abuse prevention program. Study implications and future applications of the present approach are discussed.

Language: en