Long-Term Evaluation of a Life Skills Approach for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention

Abstract

A three-day life skills re-education program, embedded in a ten-week-long new employee basic training had no long-term effects on alcohol and drug knowledge and attitudes. Nevertheless, this study provided substantive and methodological hypotheses: 1) a primary prevention program which addresses an adult population is probably offered too late in the process of the development of alcohol and drug habits; 2) a life skills approach is probably better suited for adults inscribed in a secondary prevention program; and 3) long-term evaluation using strong designs are necessary before concluding in the effectiveness of any prevention program.