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Peer Helping/Involvement: An Efficacious Way to Meet the Challenge of Reducing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Among Youth
Author(s) -
Black David R.,
Tobler Nancy S.,
Sciacca John P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1998.tb03488.x
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , medical education , peer review , resource (disambiguation) , psychology , peer group , medicine , computer science , psychiatry , social psychology , political science , computer network , law
Peer‐led drug prevention programs for middle school youth are reviewed as to whether or not they are a vital resource in an overall effort to minimize the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD). The paper focuses on the following: a) results of a 120‐study meta‐analysis of school‐based drug prevention programs and positive program features; b) considerations for falsely concluding that peer programs are ineffective; c) features of two model or stellar programs that compared interactive (peer leadership) to teacher/researcher‐led (non‐interactive) programs that followed National Peer Helpers Association (NPHA) Programmatic Standards; and d) suggestions for designing and implementing high‐quality, peer‐led programs. The authors conclude that interactive peer interventions for middle school students are statistically superior to non‐interactive didactic, lecture programs led by teachers/researchers. Programs implemented according to NPHA Programmatic Standards may eliminate Type II (false negative) and III (“implementation failure” or ineffectively designed and implemented program) errors. Opportunities for prudent application of well‐designed peer programs appropriately implemented and evaluated must remain a salient priority.