Those in Broomfield use the Project Alert program, as do schools in Longmont. The 14-week curriculum, taught by school resource officers, focuses on substances that adolescents tend to try first, such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants. It's more interactive. The kids have to do the majority of the work instead of teachers sitting there talking. They work a lot on resistance skills.
Research supports the program as well.
A study of 6,000 students from 30 middle schools found that the program reduced the number of students trying marijuana and tobacco by 30 percent. Cech said seven Boulder Valley middle schools also are considering the Life Skills program, which is recommended by the University of Colorado's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. Candy Hyatt, Base Line Middle School principal, is one of those who want to try the program next year. But she said one program, no matter how good, isn't enough. It takes a schoolwide effort, Hyatt said.