Top-rated Drug Abuse Prevention Program Unveils New Edition on Capitol Hill

Feb. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- WHITE PLAINS, NY – The highly acclaimed Botvin LifeSkills Training program recently unveiled its much anticipated new edition at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 23rd Annual National Leadership Forum. This unique prevention program has been proven to cut tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by up to 80%. Rather than emphasizing the risk associated with substance use, it promotes resilience and positive youth development by teaching students a general set of life skills.

Over 2,600 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from around the country got a first look at the fresh new user-friendly materials for teachers and middle school students. The new edition, available in Spring 2013, provides schools with the same effective LST prevention approach in newly designed materials. Its exciting contemporary look and many new features include a clean new format and updated statistics; modern graphics, icons, and images; and teaching enhancements such as clearly marked time guidelines, enrichment activities, and detailed fidelity checklists.

“I love the fresh new look and modern edge of the Teacher’s Manual and Student Guides,” said Darren Mattozzi, CADCA attendee and Prevention Coordinator, Lincoln County Alcohol/Drug Center in Davenport, Washington. “I really like how the definitions and key points stand out more in the student guides, and the updated Teacher’s Manual makes it quicker and easier to prepare and deliver the lessons.” Mattozzi serves five school districts and has implemented the program since 2004.

Community prevention leaders converged on the Gaylord National Hotel and Capitol Hill for the nation’s largest substance abuse prevention training conference. The Forum focuses on helping CADCA’s network of 5,000 coalitions to develop comprehensive evidence-based prevention strategies, including the use of model programs such as the Botvin LifeSkills Training, for community-level change.

"We’re very excited about the new edition of the LifeSkills Training program materials,” said Dr. Gilbert J. Botvin (http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/developer.php), professor emeritus at Cornell University's Weill Medical College and developer of the LST program. “It has a fresh, accessible, and contemporary look while retaining the interactive methods and engaging activities that make the program so effective. We’re particularly excited about the new enrichment activities, which give teachers the option of using different teaching techniques with the program’s activities so that they can better accommodate different student learning styles.”