The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is an epidemiologic surveillance system that was established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help monitor the prevalence of behaviors that not only influence youth health, but also put youth at risk for the most significant health and social problems that can occur during…

Gang affiliation is not something that students leave behind when they come to school. Gang members do not leave their behaviors, attitudes, and conflicts outside the school environment. Gangs, unchecked and unidentified in a school setting, often engage in threat and intimidation; physical and cyber bullying; fighting; recruiting; and criminal…

Ensuring safer schools requires establishing good indicators of the current state of school crime and safety across the nation and regularly updating and monitoring these indicators. This is the aim of this report. This report is the thirteenth in a series of annual publications produced jointly by the National Center for Education Statistics…

A joint effort by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics, this annual report examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. It provides the most current detailed statistical information to inform the Nation on the nature of crime in schools. This report presents data on crime at…

This question and answer guide provides an overview of the research on the origins and pathways of drug abuse, the basic principles derived from effective drug abuse prevention research, and the application of research results to the prevention of drug use among young people. The basic principles derived from drug abuse prevention research are…

Cocaine, including crack cocaine, was responsible for 12.8 percent of admissions to substance abuse treatment services in 2002.1 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 12 or older to report their use of illicit drugs, including cocaine. NSDUH defines cocaine use as use of cocaine in any form, including crack cocaine.…

Based on a program which was developed in Maine, this guide provides specific suggestions for establishing a new "tradition" of substance-free celebration at graduation and prom parties for high school students. An introduction discusses the dangers of drinking at high school parties, the benefits of alcohol and drug-free parties, and…

Most people over 65 take many prescription and nonprescription medicines. Because the body is changing and more medicines are taken, many older adults experience harmful reactions to the medicines they take. This booklet, written in both English and Spanish (on facing pages), was developed to help older adults learn more about medicines, recognize…

Although schools have the primary responsibility for educating children and adolescents, schools alone cannot prevent the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Preventing youth from smoking, drinking, and using drugs must be a collaborative effort, jointly undertaken by the school, community, and youths themselves. This guide was developed to…

This book focuses on the prevention of drug and alcohol use by children. It is intended for use by parents, teachers, students, religious and community leaders, and others interested in drug prevention. The book, which begins with a letter by Nancy Reagan and an introduction by Secretary of Education, William J. Bennett, stresses the seriousness…

This book is written for school staff, parents, and others interested in confronting and reversing the use of drugs by developing children. The book is presented in two parts, "The Concept," and "A Story.""The Concept" presents a program blueprint for schools which either are starting a drug education program or augmenting an existing one.…

Based on the premise that educators can make a significant difference in children's lives, this preschool and kindergarten substance abuse prevention curriculum guide informs teachers about basic prevention concepts and provides a plan for integrating these concepts within the context of an early childhood education program. The curriculum is…

Most college students are drinkers, but most of these drinkers are not problem drunks or alcoholics. College students are in fact an ideal population, at an opportune stage of development, to be taught healthy drinking practices. One major obstacle to teaching "alcohol wellness" is the considerable number of health educators who attempt to teach…

A random digit dialing procedure was used to administer a telephone survey to 335 adult residents of Community School District 22 in Brooklyn, New York. An interview schedule was developed to measure respondents' awareness of substance abuse in their neighborhoods and of local facilities for dealing with such problems. Respondents (N=125) whose…

This "In Brief" edition provides highlights from the "Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, Second Edition." It presents the updated prevention principles, an overview of program planning, and critical first steps for those learning about prevention. Thus, this…