Effects of a School-Based Prevention Program for Potential High School Dropouts and Drug Abusers

This study tested the effects of a prevention program based on an integrated social support and psychoeducational model. A semester-long Interpersonal Relations (IPR) class was predicted to deter school drop-out problems and drug abuse among adolescents. Quasi-experimental designs were used to field test the IPR program with 264 high-risk students in one of two conditions: (1) pretest, treatment, and posttest; (2) pretest and posttest. All hypotheses were supported. Significantly more potential dropouts were retained in the treated (74%) versus the comparison group (61%); differences in daily attendance (F = 12.88) and GPA, school achievement (F = 16.89), were significantly better in the treatment group (p less than .0001); drug involvement declined significantly from pre- to posttreatment for IPR program participants (t = 4.61, p less than .0001). Implications for treatment and recommendations for future research are discussed.