META-ANALYSIS OF DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION RESEARCH

Abstract

After nearly 15 years of declining rates in adolescent drug abuse, current epidemiologic research indicates significant increases in the use of a variety of illicit drugs of abuse such as inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and phencyclidine (PCP) (Department of Health and Human Services 1994) by children and youth in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. Faced with these alarming increases in drug abuse, concerned parents, educators, and community leaders are turning to prevention research to better understand the nature of these recent trends and to guide prevention policy and program development. Critical to effective preventive action at all levels of Government is an assessment of the numerous scientific findings that have been published over the past decade that may indicate which prevention practices are efficacious and which drug abuse prevention strategies need to be considered for implementation in school and community programs in order to bring a halt to increased drug abuse by the Nation's youth.