PREVENTING SUBSTANCE USE AMONG NATIVE AMERICAN EARLY ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to examine the effects of an innovative culturally appropriate school-based intervention. Cherokee Talking Circle (CTC), for the prevention of substance use among 100 Keetoowah-Cherokee 6th graders as they transition to middle school. The impact of the CTC on substance use involvement (measured by the Global Assessment of Individual Needs – Quick) and Cherokee self-reliance (measured by the Cherokee Self-Reliance Questionnaire) was assessed using a two-condition quasi-experimental design, comparing the CTC to standard substance use education (SE). Findings from this study suggest that prevention from a cultural perspective is an obvious course of action against substance use among Native American early adolescents.

Publication Title

Journal of Community Psychology

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