Used a sample of 165 long-time soap opera viewers to examine the context, motives, and consequences of drug use in daytime serials. Results showed alcohol was seen more frequently than any other drug. Portrayal of illegal drugs was much less common than that of legal drugs. (JAC)

Surveyed 2,767 middle and high school students to examine demographic, personality, and behavioral factors related to drug use. Data indicated all drug users are not alike, and a variety of social-psychological factors (peer influence, grade point average) are significantly correlated with level of drug use or abuse. (LLL)

Tested the effectiveness of the Streit Family Communication Workshops in improving perception in 11 families with adolescent children. Results indicated the viability of the workshop in changing perception, showing changes which should lead toward decreased drug use. Further evaluation of duration of change is needed. (LLL)

Compared the impact of a live theatrical performance and/or alcohol lesson plans on 716 grade 9 and 10 Canadian students. Results indicated that all interventions had an impact on attitudes and behavior and offered encouragement for the potential of theatrical performances as a vehicle for drug education. (LLL)

Surveyed current methods and problems in the assessment of alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents through interviews with professionals from 70 facilities. Results showed that methods used to assess adolescents varied greatly and that the professionals surveyed were receptive toward the idea of more standardized methods of assessment. (LLL)

Reviews the recent literature on mass media campaigns and communication approaches promoting drug abuse prevention aimed at four target audiences: youth, parents, women, and the elderly. Cited the importance of audience analysis, of segmenting audiences into subgroups, and of designing customized presentations as critical across all target…

Addresses the use of data sources and multivariate data analysis methods for modeling naturally occurring data. Two studies in this special section deal with longitudinal perspectives on drug use and emotional adjustment and an application of log-linear model to examine the stress-buffering function of alcohol. (LLL)

Examined the role of difficult temperament or behavioral style and tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in the 133 subjects of the New York Longitudinal Study. Results indicated that the possession of difficult temperamental characteristics at age five and in early adulthood are associated with drug use in young adulthood. (JAC)

Evaluated a drug education course for 237 junior high school students which included decision-making skills, assertiveness training, and drug information and alternatives. Comparison of experimental and control groups showed the course had no significant effect on girls and only a few effects at follow-up for boys. (JAC)

Tested an alcohol/drug education curriculum in 25 Nebraska junior high schools involving 1,800 students. Using teacher training and student age as independent variables, gains in knowledge and decision-making ability were assessed. Results showed teacher training was a critical variable in curriculum innovation, especially for older students. (JAC)

Surveyed 138 parents and compared their attitudes toward children's use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco with previous findings on attitudes of students. Results suggested each generation demands a stricter standard of behavior from the other generation than from their own. (JAC)

Presents methodological considerations in developing an automatic cheap algorithm for computerized path diagraming, gives some plotted results, and describes a program which produces the plots from an input matrix of path coefficients on a standard line printer. The program accommodates unidirectional and reciprocal causation and represents…

Describes the effects of an alcohol education program for 155 ninth-grade students. Results indicated that the experimental group scored significantly more favorably on knowledge, refuting arguments, compliance and riding with drinking drivers. Scores of the experimental group continued to be significantly more favorable six months later. (JAC)

Suggests that pathological denial in alcoholics may be a reaction to stress from past traumatic events, the sequelae of alcoholism, or even the treatment process itself. A case is presented that illustrates this conceptualization, and relevant treatment nuances are discussed. (Author/JAC)

Evaluated the effect of monetary incentives on cigarette smoking in 120 college students. Results indicated that monetary incentive was generally effective in reducing smoking. Incentives offered to a group (sorority and fraternity) were more effective among females, while individual incentives were more effective with men. (JAC)