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Project Northland

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Project Northland is a multilevel intervention involving students, peers, parents, and community in programs designed to delay the age at which adolescents begin drinking, reduce alcohol use among those already drinking, and limit the number of alcohol-related problems among young drinkers. Administered to adolescents in grades 6-8 on a weekly basis, the program has a specific theme within each grade level that is incorporated into the parent, peer, and community components. The 6th-grade home-based program targets communication about adolescent alcohol use utilizing student-parent homework assignments, in-class group discussions, and a communitywide task force. The 7th-grade peer- and teacher-led curriculum focuses on resistance skills and normative expectations regarding teen alcohol use, and is implemented through discussions, games, problem-solving tasks, and role-plays. During the first half of the 8th-grade Powerlines peer-led program, students learn about community dynamics related to alcohol use prevention through small group and classroom interactive activities. During the second half, they work on community-based projects and hold a mock town meeting to make community policy recommendations to prevent teen alcohol use.

Goal / Mission

The program’s goal is to delay the age when young people begin drinking and to reduce drinking among those who have already started.

Impact

Studies have shown that by the end of the intervention, participating students were significantly less likely to drink alcohol than nonparticipants. Also, students who did not use alcohol before participating in the program were less likely to use alcohol after the intervention than similar youth who did not participate.

Results / Accomplishments

Multiple studies have been conducted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. One such study was conducted in 24 school districts and adjacent communities in northeastern Minnesota. The intervention targeted sixth grade students and was implemented for three years. By the end of the intervention, students who participated in Project Northland were significantly less likely to drink alcohol than other students, as measured by lower mean scores on the Tendency To Use Alcohol Scale (16.0% vs. 17.5%, p<0.05). In addition, students who did not use alcohol before participating in Project Northland were less likely to use alcohol after the intervention than similar youth who did not participate (13.8% vs. 15.3%, p<0.01).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Hazelden Publishing
Primary Contact
Hazelden Publishing
15251 Pleasant Valley Road
P.O. Box 176
Center City, MN 55012-0176
800-328-9000
customersupport@hazeldenbettyford.org
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/projectnorthland
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Hazelden Publishing
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Date of publication
Mar 1996
Date of implementation
1991
For more details
Target Audience
Teens