Project TND is an effective, interactive, classroom-based substance abuse prevention program that is founded on more than two decades of successful research at the University of Southern California. Project TND focuses on three factors that predict tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use, violence-related behaviors, and other problem behaviors among youth, including:

  • Motivation factors (i.e., students’ attitudes, beliefs, expectations, and desires regarding drug use);
  • Skills (effective communication, social self-control, and coping skills);
  • Decision-making (i.e., how to make decisions that lead to health-promoting behaviors).

Risk Factors Addressed:

  • belief that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) are safe to use
  • poor communication skills
  • lack of coping skills
  • poor ability to make healthy decisions
  • low commitment to school

Skills Built:

  • accurate knowledge about the effects of ATOD
  • behavioral and cognitive coping skills
  • stopped or reduced use of ATOD
  • personal commitment to not use ATOD
  • positive future orientation
  • increase in healthy friendships

Age: High school youth ages 14-19. The program has proved successful when implemented in regular as well as alternative (continuation) high schools, with students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Setting: Full classrooms or small groups during the school day

Format: 12 sessions, 40-50 minutes each, over 4 to 6 weeks

Effectiveness: In randomized control trials the program has been shown to reduce substance use and weapon-carrying (in male) at one year follow up. Results include:

  • 27% prevalence reduction* in 30-day cigarette use
  • 22% prevalence reduction in 30-day marijuana use
  • 26% prevalence reduction in 30-day hard drug use
  • 9% prevalence reduction in 30-day alcohol use among baseline drinkers
  • 25% prevalence reduction in one-year weapon-carrying among males

Not sure which programs are right for you? Let us save you time and make sure you find the best services to match the needs of your school, workplace, community or organization. Contact Matt Weaver in Lancaster County, Michelle Sweitzer in Lebanon County, or Laura Wiechecki in Chester County for assistance.