Community Effort Can Decrease Teen Drinking and Smoking, Study
Finds A new study finds a program designed to assist communities
in preventing unhealthy behaviors in teens is effective in
reducing adolescent smoking and drinking. The study found tenth
graders in towns that used the program, called “Communities That
Care,” were less likely to try drinking or smoking, compared
with teens in communities not using the program. The program was
also effective in reducing delinquent behavior including
stealing, fights and vandalism, HealthDay reports. Communities
participating in the program had 4,400 fifth graders in seven
states complete surveys designed to identify factors that put
them at risk for health and behavior problems. A group of
community leaders, including parents, teachers and health
workers, looked at ways to address the problems. They chose from
a list of preventive interventions that have been shown to work,
such as tutoring, educational sessions for parents of at-risk
kids, and middle-school curric