Fewer high school students across the U.S. started drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, committing crimes and engaging in violence before graduation when their towns used the Communities That Care prevention system during the teens' middle school years.
A University of Washington study found that the positive influence of this community-led system was sustained through high school.
"These towns are safer now, because there are significantly fewer teens fighting, stealing or doing things under the influence that they'd regret later," said J. David Hawkins, lead author and founding director of the Social Development Research Group, affiliated with the UW School of Social Work.
The results also suggest that teens growing up in Communities That Care towns will go on to have healthier lives.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-12-teen-violence-crime.html
Abstract in Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1788472
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