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October 8, 2007Friends Help Friends Avoid Drug Use |
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From University of Southern California: High-risk teenagers who participate in peer-led substance abuse prevention programs reduce their drug use by approximately 15 percent versus traditional curricula, suggests a study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC). "Most substance abuse prevention programs disseminate information about the bad effects of drugs and teach resistance skills without considering the impact of peer influence," says Thomas Valente, Ph.D., assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. The study compared substance use among students participating in the prevention program Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND), traditionally led by a health educator or teacher, to the modified peer-led Project TND Network. TND held interactive discussions at the classroom level while TND Network divided the students into smaller groups composed of their friends, increased the number of group activities and a student-chosen leader led the discussion. "Reducing drug use among the high-risk teen population at these alternative schools is tough," continues Valente. "It is encouraging to see this type of positive influence among students who live and go to school in challenging environments." However, the study also found that students with a peer environment that supports substance use did not benefit from the interactive program. Students with substance using friends increase their own use in the peer-led condition. "Peer influence can go both ways, some students benefited because of the positive social influence of their friends while others were harmed by negative influence of their substance using peers," concludes Valente.
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