Pubdate: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 Source: Sun Herald (MS) Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald Contact: http://www.sunherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432 EFFECTIVE DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS The following programs are nationally recognized for their effectiveness in preventing drug and alcohol abuse. The Leadership and Resiliency Program: Based out of Fairfax, Va.,a school- and community-based program for high school students that enhances youths' internal strengths and resiliency while keeping them away from drugs. Participants attend weekly in-school discussion groups with other students to talk about overcoming problems. They are expected to participate in weekly community service activities, including working at a local animal shelter or working on community beautification projects. They also participate in adventure activities, such as camping trips, mountain climbing and white water kayaking, on weekends, after school or during the summer. For more information: (703) 934-5476. Project Toward No Drug Abuse: Developed by researchers at the University of Southern California, the school-based program is designed to help high school students resist substance abuse. It is composed of 12 lessons that include motivational activities, social skills and decision-making training that are delivered through group discussions, games, role-playing exercises, videos and worksheets. For more information: (626) 457-6635. Positive Action: Developed in Twin Falls, Idaho, the program includes school, family and community components for students from kindergarten through high school. Schools are provided materials and lesson plans. Parents receive a family kit that contains lessons corresponding to the school program. A community kit is used to organize a steering committee that guides community partners to develop and coordinate positive initiatives and activities. For more information: (208) 733-1328. Fighting Back: Created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the project encourages various agencies, groups and institutions within a community to focus their resources on developing strategies to reduce substance abuse. The project targets areas with populations of no more than 300,000. The following cities have Fighting Back projects: New Haven, Conn.; San Antonio, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Little Rock, Ark.; Columbia, S.C.; Worcester, Mass.; Charlotte, N.C.; Newark N.J.; Milwaukee, Wis..; Gallup, N.M.; Washington, D.C. For more information: (617) 437-1500. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens