Currently, ACCEPT implements Positive Action to students who attend the TEAM-UP after school program. The TEAM-UP Program was a part of the No Child Left Behind Initiative and allows us to work with low-income 4th and 5th grade students at Glenn Duncan, Echo Loder and Kate Smith Elementary Schools who are at risk for substance misuse At the end of the 12-week course each student who only missed 1 class will be given a $15.00 Walmart gift card. With these incentives, many of our students buy much needed food and clothing for themselves and their families.

Substance Use Prevention

The approach and philosophy of the Positive Action program support the prevention, intervention, and treatment of substance abuse, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, methamphetamines, opiates, stimulants, steroids, hallucinogens, inhalants, and prescription drugs. The Positive Action approach helps individuals become aware of the negative consequences of using substances.

Positive Action teaches students a basic philosophy about the value of positive actions and the consequences of the negative action of substance use. . Instead of scare tactics, short-term strategies, or information-only approaches, the Positive Action program teaches students daily how and why they can be strong and live without drugs.

The Positive Action philosophy explains that the good feeling we all want about ourselves (a positive self-concept) is developed only by doing positive actions. They can apply this philosophy in any given situation, including those in which they may be pressured to drink, smoke, or use drugs.

Educators can teach Positive Action with confidence because researchers have found that this program reduces substance use in general, as well as use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The analysis from two randomized trials has been featured in three peer- reviewed journal articles.

Alcohol Use Prevention

Alcohol use by students remains extremely high in the U.S., with recent-use prevalence at 70 percent. [1] Of most concern are students under the age of 15 who are exposed to alcohol use; they are five times more likely to develop a dependence or abuse in adulthood. [2][3]

It’s important that prevention efforts begin at school, and researchershave identified the most effective components: School-based strategies should be comprehensive in approach and include social development, family involvement and strategies for resisting peer pressure. [4][5]

Positive Action works effectively as an alcohol use prevention program because it includes all of these components and teaches students the importance of comprehensive health. It features lessons that explicitly address the health and social consequences of alcohol use.

In addition to specific lessons on the dangers of alcohol, students learn healthful personal habits that discourage substance use and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Students receive lessons that explain how alcohol can directly affect their self-concept and how it affects
the TAF Circle (Thoughts-Actions Feelings). Students quickly learn that alcohol use is a negative action that will produce negative feelings.

The program addresses these topics with a holistic approach that covers the health implications but also teaches students important tools to use within their social groups. Additional lesson content focuses on strategies to handle peer and social pressure to drink alcohol.

This comprehensive approach is most effective when an entire schoolis learning Positive Action. It’s easier for students to decline invitations to drink when a majority of the students are learning and practicing Positive Action.

The Drug Education Kits further these efforts with additional lesson material (games, stories, and role-playing) specifically designed to extend coping strategies. With this additional reinforcement, students are better prepared to deal with peer and social pressure associated with alcohol consumption.

References:

1. Center for Disease Control. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
   2011. http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?TT=&OUT
2. Hingson RW, Heeren T, Winter MR. Age at Drinking Onset and Alcohol Dependence: Age at Onset, Duration, and Severity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006; 160(7):739-746. doi:10.1001/archpedi.160.7.739. http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=205204
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. The NSDUH Report: Alcohol Dependence or Abuse and Age at First Use. 2004. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/ageDependence/ageDependence.htm
4. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 May 11;(5):CD009113. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009113. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21563171
5. Lemstra M, Bennett N, Nannapaneni U, Neudorf C, Warren L, Kershaw T, Scott C. A systematic review of school-based marijuana and alcohol prevention programs targeting adolescents aged 10-15. Addiction Research and Theory 2010; 18(1): 84-96. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0029168/