Preventing substance use among Native American youth: Three-year results.

Developed and tested skills- and community-based approaches to prevent substance abuse among 1,396 Native American 3rd–5th graders. After pretest measurements, Ss were divided randomly by school into 2 intervention arms and 1 control arm. Following intervention, Ss completed posttest and 3 annual follow-up measurements. Youths assigned to the intervention arms learned cognitive and behavioral skills for substance abuse prevention. One intervention arm additionally engaged local community residents in efforts to prevent substance use among Native American youth. Outcome assessment batteries measured youths' reported use of smoked and smokeless tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. Over the course of the 3.5-year study, increased rates of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use were reported by youths across the 3 arms of the study. Though cigarette use was unaffected by intervention, follow-up rates of smokeless tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use were lower for youths who received skills intervention. Community intervention components appeared to exert no added beneficial influence on youths' substance use. Gender differences were apparent across substances, measurements, and study arms, with girls smoking more cigarettes and boys using more smokeless tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)