Project SUCCESS is a research-based program that builds on the findings of other successful prevention programs by using interventions that are effective in reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors. Project SUCCESS targets the following risk and protective factors.

- Self efficacy/sense of mastery
- Social competence
- Family Sanctions Against Use
- Positive parent-school relationships
- School bonding
- Participation in School Activities
- Network of non-drug using peers
- Positive peer relationships

Project SUCCESS was originally evaluated in schools serving high risk, multi-problem adolescents (Morehouse et al., 2000). The findings demonstrated that adolescents participating in Project SUCCESS showed a significant 37% overall decrease in alcohol and other drug use as compared to adolescents in the comparison group. This corresponds to a considerably large effect size of 0.71 Posttest data regarding past 30-day use of alcohol revealed that 33% of the adolescents that reported using at pretest were no longer using alcohol at the posttest. Of the adolescents using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD), 23% of those in the Project SUCCESS program quit ATOD use, whereas only 5% in the comparison condition quit. For those adolescents who did not quit ATOD use, there was a significant reduction in ATOD use among Project SUCCESS participants. Participation in peer/school non-drug activities increased, direct pressure and ATOD problem behavior significantly decreased for all students in the a building with a Project SUCCESS counselor (PSC) as compared to students in schools without a PSC. This shows that Project SUCCESS benefits all students in the building, even those who do not participate directly.

Since the original evaluation, Project SUCCESS has been adapted for middle school students. The Prevention Education Series and counseling components were modified so that they would be developmentally appropriate for younger adolescents. In addition, the program has been utilized in regular high schools.

Currently the program is being evaluated with adolescents attending a mainstream middle school and high school. Preliminary results indicate that students participating in Project SUCCESS decreased their use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs. In addition, they were more likely to report that that they had not used marijuana at follow-up, that they had not gotten drunk alone at follow-up, and that they that they had not used alcohol and marijuana together at follow-up compared to students who did not participate in Project SUCCESS.

Click here to order Project SUCCESS program materials or to enroll in a Project SUCCESS Training.