Community care system benefits youth
Students in Pennsylvania school districts that participated in Communities
that Care (CTC) coalition were significantly less likely to use alcohol or
marijuana, or to engage in delinquent behaviour than those in non-CTC
districts, according to a recent study published in Prevention Science.
Based upon self-reports, students in the CTC school districts that used
at least one evidence-based programme were less likely to engage in marijuana
use by 22%, cigarette use by 17% and alcohol consumption by 15%.
More than 500 communities throughout the US use the CTC model, which involves a
five-phase change process with the goal of promoting healthy youth development
and reducing problem behaviours. Coalitions comprised of community stakeholders
who receive training in prevention science methods and data-based decision
making.
The study, funded by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, is the largest to-date to examine the effectiveness of Pennsylvania
CTC coalitions.
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