The Willow Tree Teen Institute: An evaluative study of a resiliency-based substance abuse prevention program for middle school students (New Jersey)

Since the late 1960's, the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs (ATOD) by adolescents has been a persistent problem in the United States. Research by the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety's Task Force on Juvenile Drug and Alcohol Use in New Jersey (1999) indicates that about four in every five students report having used alcohol at some time in their lives. That, coupled with findings by the Children of Alcoholics Foundation that there are at least 11 million children living in alcoholic families, causes concern over the effectiveness of current and past prevention programs.; During the past decade, a number of strategies have been used by educators to help to reduce the problem of adolescent ATOD use. Some have proven to be successful, while others have not. Considering the number of youth in high risk environments and the number who are presently experimenting with substances, particularly alcohol and tobacco, the consensus is that ATOD prevention programs need to target all students, not just those who appear to be at risk.; Resiliency studies altered the perspectives of prevention educators who began to focus on their students' strengths rather than their weaknesses. Many very effective resiliency based prevention programs emerged from this change in perspective. A benefit of resiliency based prevention programs is that they target all children, not just those who appear to be at risk.; The Willow Tree Teen Institute is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention program that focuses on building resiliency in students in grades 5 through 8. This study examines the Willow Tree experience from the perspectives of prevention professionals who have acted as advisors to groups of student participants.; A questionnaire designed by the researcher was completed by approximately 75 past and present advisors. An analysis of the data helps the reader to understand the phenomenon of the Willow Tree Teen Institute as an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention program.