Involving Parents of High-Risk Youth in Drug Prevention: A Three-Year Longitudinal Study in Boys & Girls Clubs

The study evaluated the incremental effect of a 3-year drug prevention program for high-risk early adolescents, combined with monthly youth activities and parent involvement (Family Advocacy Network [FAN] Club group) relative to: (a) the 3-year drug prevention program with monthly youth activities but without parent involvement (Prevention Plus Youth Activities group), (b) the 3-year drug prevention program alone (Prevention Only group), and (c) no program (Control group). Results showed positive effects for the FAN Club group for alcohol refusal, marijuana refusal cigarette refusal and marijuana attitudes. The Prevention Plus Youth Activities group and the Prevention Only group held fairly constant on those four variables. The Control group showed a decrease in reported ability to refuse alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes; an increase in favorable attitudes toward marijuana use; and the least knwledge of the groups. Implications for youth organization prevention programs with parent involvement are discussed