The prevalence of effective substance use prevention curricula in U.S. middle schools

Abstract

Despite an abundance of evaluative evidence concerning the effectiveness of several school-based substance use prevention curricula, many of the nation's middle schools continue to implement curricula that are either untested or ineffective. This study reports the prevalence of substance use prevention curricula in the nation's public and private schools that contain middle school grades. We also report school- and respondent-related background characteristics differentiating schools using at least 1 effective curriculum from those using ineffective or untested curricula. Respondents comprised the lead staff who taught substance use prevention in a representative sample of 1,905 of the nation's public and private schools that include middle school grades. Data were collected in 1999 by means of a self-administered survey. Altogether, 26.8% of all schools, including 34.6% of public schools and 12.6% of private schools, used at least 1 of the 10 effective curricula specified. Few school or respondent characteristics were related to program implementation. Over two thirds of schools reported using more than 1 curriculum, and almost half reported using 3 or more. Results demonstrate the considerable gap between our understanding of effective curricula and current school practice. Prevention researchers and practitioners should work closely together to find ways to increase the proportion of schools implementing effective curricula.