What is CROSSROADS?
The CROSSROADS Co-op Substance Abuse Prevention and Peer Education Program is a blend of the power of peer education and technology to delay and reduce substance use in high school students. College mentors from UNCW are mentoring high school peer educators at schools in New Hanover County, and soon around the country, to provide a drug education curriculum for high school students.After teaming with Prevention Strategues of Greensboro, NC, CROSSROADS applied for and received a Science and Technology Transfer (STTR) grant that provides funding to build upon our existing curriculum and to complete a pilot test of the program. Phase I demonstrated feasibility through a randomized trial in New Hanover County high schools and Phase II supported the program's final development and a national multi-site trial to demonstrate results in a variety of high school environments.
Was the effectiveness of CROSSROADS evaluated?
Yes. Our results were very promising. The goal of the pilot test in New Hanover County High Schools this fall was to determine whether 9th-grade health students who received the CROSSROADS program differ in any ways from 9th-grade health students who received traditional substance abuse prevention curriculum. Students who received CROSSROADS showed lower alcohol use and intentions to use than students who did not receive the program.
How does CROSSROADS work?
Peer Educators: Select students from 9th-grade health classes are asked to participate in CROSSROADS and serve as a resource to their classmates; they also assist the teacher and the college mentor in implementing other aspects of the CROSSROADS program. Peer educators and college mentors have weekly after-school meetings.
Mentoring: UNCW college students mentor the peer educators and work with both the teachers and the peer educators to deliver CROSSROADS components.
Drug Information Booths: Peer educators and college mentors set up and run interactive booths for students to visit during class time to teach students about a particular drug (e.g., tobacco or alcohol).
Social Norms Campaign: Each school's 9th-grade peer educators decide on a campaign to challenge students' perceived norms regarding alcohol and drug use among their peers.
Classroom Curriculum: CROSSROADS provides an 8 session classroom curriculum that is team taught by high school health teachers and peer educators from their class. Presentations are 45-90 minutes in length and address our seven key mediators proven to prevent alcohol and drug use in adolescents: making good decisions, beliefs about consequences, healthy commitments, goal setting, resisting pressure, accurate knowledge, and position social norms.
How can I reach CROSSROADS if I have any questions?
Please call or e-mail us at any time!
Diane Edwards
CROSSROADS Coordinator for High School Programs
910.962.7432
edwardsd@uncw.edu
