WWC review of this study

Technical report: Evaluation of the Too Good for Drugs Elementary School Prevention Program.

Bacon, T. P. (2003). A report produced for Florida Department of Education Department of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Tallahassee, FL. Available from: The Mendez Foundation, 601 S. Magnolia Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    1,050
     Students
    , grades
    3-4

Reviewed: September 2006

At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Behavior outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Prosocial behaviors

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Follow-up

Grades 3-4;
1,050 students

3.82

3.46

Yes

 
 
17

Personal and social skills

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Follow-up

Grades 3-4;
1,050 students

3.75

3.51

Yes

 
 
12

Inappropriate behaviors

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Follow-up

Grades 3-4;
1,050 students

4.04

4.04

No

--
Knowledge, attitudes, & values outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Goal setting and decision making skills

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Posttest

Grades 3-4;
934 students

4.33

4.21

Yes

 
 
7

Emotional competency skills (follow-up)

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Posttest

Grades 3-4;
934 students

4.00

3.95

No

--

Social and resistance skills

Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) vs. None

Follow-up

Grades 3-4;
934 students

3.59

3.54

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 49%
    Male: 51%
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    Florida
  • Race
    Black
    17%
    Other or unknown
    2%
    White
    71%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    10%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    90%

Setting

The school district was in Lake County, Florida.

Study sample

The study comparison included 1,142 third- and fourth-grade students from six elementary schools. About 45% of the sample was eligible to participate in the free or reduced lunch program. Of the sample, 49% were females, 71% Caucasian, 17% African-American, 10% Hispanic, and 2% other race (Asian; American Indian; multicultural).

Intervention Group

The program was implemented during the first half of the school year. Classroom teachers delivered 10 lesson units averaging 45 minutes in length to students in grades 3 and 4. Students were also encouraged to participate in “Home Workouts” with their family members to reinforce the lessons.

Comparison Group

The comparison group was drawn from matched schools in the same school district. Comparison group students did not participate in the Too Good for Drugs™ program at the time of the study but received it in the fourth quarter of the school year.

Outcome descriptions

Students responded to two sets of survey items. Three items were used to gauge students’ intentions to drink alcohol and use marijuana within the next 12 months. Nineteen additional items were used to assess protective factors associated with youth susceptibility to illicit drugs. The 19 items were grouped into such protective factor subscales as perceptions of peer resistance skills, prosocial peer relationships, and locus of control. (See Appendices A2.1 and A2.2 for a more detailed description of outcome measures.)

Support for implementation

No training information was given other than that in small groups or individually teachers received a brief training refresher.

 

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