High School Students' Efforts to Reduce Alcohol Use in Their Communities: Project Northlands Youth Development Component

Abstract

This article describes the goals, rationale, and design of the youth development component of Project Northland, Phase II, a community-based research project to reduce older adolescents' (grades 11 and 12) alcohol use. The youth development program consisted of teams of high school students in 18 different schools in northeastern Minnesota that identified problems related to alcohol use and planned community action projects and activities to address their concerns. The program's goal was to create positive changes in the social environment around alcohol-related issues through active youth participation in schools and communities. In addition to their community action projects and activities, students participated in regional training, created original videos, and learned about the state legislative process. It was anticipated that involvement in youth action teams would increase (1) students' opportunities and motivation to participate in community activities that would influence policies and practices related to alcohol use and problems; (2) students' self-efficacy and social support to participate in community actions that would influence policies and practices related to alcohol use and problems; (3) students' knowledge about alcohol; and (4) positive recognition of teens in the community.