Stay on Track Executive Summary
The problem of drug use and abuse in the United States is nothing short of tragic. The National Guard Bureau (NGB) determined their role in the handling of this problem is to attack it on multiple fronts. One of the primary mechanisms being used by NGB is the Drug Demand Reduction Administrator (DDRA). In order to better homogenize the efforts of the DDRAs in the 54 states and territories, NGB partnered with NCPRS, a recognized organization possessing an evidence-based set of materials and activities.
The National Center for Prevention and Research Solutions (NCPRS) meets the needs of NGB by providing evidence-based, evaluation-proven curricular materials for use by the DDRAs. NCPRS has been operating in the field of drug abuse prevention since 1989, through its Race Against Drugs (RAD) campaign. Begun in the late 1980's, when drug use was at its peak in the United States, RAD used the then-controversial vehicle of motorsports to convey its message to communities across the country. The message was clear: there is no room in motorsports or in life for drug use.
Initially, the RAD program was used simply to bring awareness to the growing drug problems in American communities, and stimulate these communities to take their streets and their children back from drugs. In 1992, RAD developed its first set of evidence-based prevention materials for use at racetracks and community events. These materials were designed to stand alone and provide young people with a clearer understanding of the dangers of drug use in a fun, non-threatening way.
In the months following the initial dissemination, RAD received calls from teachers and school administrators indicating that the materials had found their way into the classroom. RAD capitalized on this by developing what is now called the Adopt-A-School (AAS) kit for distribution to schools across the country. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) were approached about support for this initiative; both agreed. CSAP provided technical support and BJA, through the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), provided partial financial support. To date, the AAS materials are in the 4th edition and research for the 5th edition has begun.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has supported the RAD program to varying degrees since 1995, providing limited financial and technical support to RAD's programmatic activities. With their assistance, NCPRS set out to evaluate its new evidence-based curriculum using RAD's trademark motorsports theme. The evaluation results have been outstanding, indicating that following the curriculum participants:
- Have a better understanding of the negative effects of drug use
- Know better how to make effective decisions
- Understand better how to effectively communicate their decisions to their peers
- Are less likely to use tobacco products
- Have a better understanding of how the media attempts to affect their decisions
These, and the many other skills and points of knowledge provided by Stay on Track, have been shown to reduce the likelihood of future drug use by youth and adults. Throughout the last nineteen years, NCPRS, through its RAD program, has worked directly with CSAP on the development and dissemination of materials, including five Stay on Track youth publications for grades K-2, drug prevention posters, brochures, and the previously mentioned AAS materials. These materials have been developed by RAD and distributed through CSAP's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI).
NCPRS, working with CSAP, developed the curriculum framework and lesson plans for a 3rd-5th grade version of the Stay on Track curriculum. NCPRS is pursuing a further partnership with CSAP to pilot test the curriculum. In the next four years, NCPRS hopes to expand the evidence-based Stay on Track program to provide drug prevention skills from kindergarten through eighth grade, enabling our country's youth to be successful adults pursuing whatever future they choose.