The Impact of a High School Alcohol Education Program Utilizing a Live Theatrical Performance: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The impact of a live theatrical performance on the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of grade nine and ten students viewing the performance was assessed by eighteen measures using a pretest/posttest questionnaire. “BOOZE,” a series of five alcohol related skits, was matched with a subset of ARF Alcohol Lesson Plans for comparative purposes. Participating Northwestern Ontario schools were assigned to one of four groups; Performance Only, Lesson Plans Only, Performance and Lesson Plans, and Control. The results indicated that all three interventions had an impact on attitudes and behavior. Although the Performance Only intervention was as effective as the Lesson Plans Only program, the two together not only did not increase the impact, but in some instances produced decrements. The results of the present study offer encouragement for the potential of theatrical performances as a vehicle for drug education. Since the study demonstrates a short term effect, the authors recommend utilizing a live theatrical performance with special consideration given to evaluating the duration of message impact.