Research-based prevention programs have demonstrated the capacity to produce a variety of positive youth outcomes. Below are some examples of statistically significant program evaluation results in the areas of health, social skills, and school-related behaviors.

The evaluation results described below were identified in: U.S. Department of Education. (2001). Safe and Drug-free Schools and Communities Announcement 2001: Nine Exemplary and Thirty-Three Promising Programs Identified via an Expert Panel Process. Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program (e-mail communication).

• Health-related Outcomes

  • Sixth and seventh grade students participating in Project Star demonstrated a 20 to 30 percent reduction in "gateway" drug use (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana) throughout high school.

  • Problem drinking (three or more drinks per occasion) was significantly lower among seventh grade students who participated in the Life Skills Training Program.

  • Middle school students who participated in Lion's-Quest Skills for Adolescence demonstrated higher levels of perceived risk or harm to student's health for all substances; lower rates of beer, liquor, and chewing tobacco use; and lower rates of intent to use beer and liquor in the future.

  • Middle school students participating in Project ALERT, relative to the control group, showed that current and occasional cigarette use was 20 to 25 percent lower, and regular and heavy cigarette use was 33 to 55 percent lower.

  • High school football teams who participated in the ATLAS Program showed improved nutrition and exercise behaviors and reduced drinking and driving occurrences compared with the control group.

• Social Skills Outcomes

  • Middle school students participating in the SCARE Program evaluation demonstrated decreases in state anger and trait anger and increases in anger control when compared to the control group.

  • Elementary school students who were taught the Second Step curriculum demonstrated increases in neutral and prosocial behavior over the school year, compared to the control group.

  • Seventh graders participating in Lion's-Quest Skills for Adolescence demonstrated gains in knowledge and attitudes about ways to deal with peer conflicts.

  • A matched control group study showed that middle school students participating in SMART Team showed diminished beliefs supportive of violence and increased self-awareness of how to handle situations that invoke anger.

  • Eighth grade students participating in Facing History and Ourselves demonstrated a greater decrease in racism and a greater increase in social competencies than did comparison students.

• School-Related Behaviors

  • Seventh graders participating in Lion's-Quest Skills for Adolescence demonstrated greater gains in grade-point average than did members of a control group.

  • Ninth grade students participating in Community of Caring showed gains in grade-point averages, school attendance, and enrollment status, compared to a comparison group.

  • Elementary school students who participated in the Child Development Project demonstrated increased positive behavior in class (helpfulness, etc.), compared to a control group.

  • Reading scores of students participating in Growing Healthy improved for both third and fourth graders, as did third grade math scores, compared to the comparison group.