Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND)

The Program

Project TND is an evidence-based, interactive classroom-based substance abuse prevention program that is based on more than two decades of successful research at the University of Southern California. Project TND focuses on three factors that predict tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use, violence-related behaviors, and other problem behaviors among youth, including:

Motivation factors (i.e., students’ attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and desires regarding drug use);

Skills (effective communication, social self-control, and coping skills); and

Decision-making (i.e., how to make decisions that lead to health-promoting behaviors).

Intended Audience

Project TND targets high school youth, ages 14 to 19. The program has proved successful when implemented in regular as well as alternative (continuation) high schools, with students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Implementation

Project TND was designed for implementation in a classroom setting by a trained teacher or health education specialist. However, some community-based organizations have adapted it for use in a community setting where trained implementers are available.

The project includes 12 classroom-based sessions, each of which is 40 to 50 minutes in length. The program was designed for implementation over a four-week period (i.e., 3 sessions per week). However, it can also be implemented twice a week over a six-week period on the condition that all lessons are taught.

Each of the program sessions is highly participatory and interactive. The sessions provide opportunities for interactions among students and between students and the teacher.

Three of the 12 sessions include the option to deliver program content using either entire class discussion, or the use of small groups.

The materials required for implementation include the Teacher’s Manual and one copy of the Student Workbook for each student, which either may be kept or used as a reference book. There is a video for use in Session 12, which is optional. The classroom should be equipped with a whiteboard/chalkboard. Use of an overhead projector or computer with PowerPoint software is optional.

Project TND works when it is implemented with fidelity. In order for the program to be effective, all the sessions need to be taught. In addition, the sessions need to be taught as written in the Teacher’s Manual, utilizing the content and instructional techniques that are specified.

Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students will be able to:

Stop or reduce the use of cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs (i.e., cocaine, hallucinogens, depressants, amphetamines, etc).

Stop or reduce weapon carrying and victimization.

State accurate information about the consequences of drug use and abuse, including environmental, social, physiological, and emotional consequences.

Demonstrate behavioral and cognitive coping skills.

Make a personal commitment regarding drug use.

Evidence

Project TND has been rigorously tested, with seven research trials and over 8,600 youth participants, to date. More than 5,700 youth from 42 high schools in Southern California, and over 2,800 youth from 45 high schools outside of California across the U.S., have participated in our research on the program. We have evaluated program effectiveness in alternative (continuation) high schools as well as regular high schools. The student populations in these schools have been ethnically diverse, including African American (5-26%), Latino/Hispanic (28-46%), Asian (1-7%) and White (36-45%) students.

To date, the program has conducted seven randomized experimental studies in which schools that received the program were compared to schools that did not receive the program.

Additional Resources