Programs / Projects

Project TND

Towards No Drug Abuse

Project TND is an effective, interactive classroom-based substance abuse prevention program that is based 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 (students' attitudes, beliefs, and expectations)

• Skills (social, self-control, and coping skills)

• Decision-Making (how to make decisions that lead to health-promoting behaviors)

Prior to implementing Project TND at each school, program staff met with the administration to ensure that the curriculum was delivered in the most appropriate setting and tied to course Sunshine State Standards. The most common implementation models were Leadership, HOPE, Health/PE Fitness, and Life Management classes.

For more information on Project TND, please visit their website at: http://tnd.usc.edu/

      Social Norms Marketing / S.A.D.D. Chapters     

The purpose of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is to encourage students to make positive choice for safe, healthy and substance-free lifestyles.  SADD promotes a No-Use message - - no alcohol, no tobacco, no illegal substances - - through positive peer pressure, support and activism.  Peer pressure is known to have a significant influence on the decisions made by teens today.

The HEC Alcohol Abuse Reduction Program will establish new, as well as support existing, SADD Chapters at each school.  SADD Advisers and students will have the opportunity to participate in local and state SADD youth leadership conferences.  The groups will promote positive decision making and will create student made public service announcements to encourage peers to make safe and positive decisions.  Changing the way people perceive underage drinking is an effort to change social norms.

The SADD chapters will utilize the positive community norms model "Most Youth Choose No To . . . " to disseminate information to students, parents, and community members.

Health promotion research conducted over the past decade with students reveals that social norms marketing is one method of delivering media-based prevention messages that are scientifically defensible.  Although many other approaches have been popular such as the use of awareness weeks, and providing factual/education information, these approaches have been ineffective for reducing risky behaviors associated with substance abuse. 

For more information on Florida SADD chapters, please visit their website at: http://www.floridasadd.org/