Using demographic data in a primary prevention substance abuse program for teenagers and parents.

Collected demographic data by 2 questionnaire surveys from 402 high school students (aged 16–19 yrs) and 266 parents to plan a low-cost, community-based adolescent substance abuse program. Information about teens' drug use, attitudes, alternative activities, and preferred helping resources was compared to parents' knowledge of and attitudes toward their children's drug use. Two programs were planned. The teen program emphasized peer support, drug education before age 16 yrs, the school's drug milieu, sex differences in drug attitudes and use, and the role of religious institutions in prevention. Since parents were almost totally unaware of their children's drug use, the parent program focused on drug information and development of communication skills with teens. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)