A reflective approach to preventing alcohol abuse in youth.

A reflective approach to alcohol abuse prevention uses a group survey format to measure knowledge, attitude, and alcohol use, and presents the results to students for discussion. The program respects the students' rights of anonymity, and yet provides information to them about peer knowledge, attitude, and use of alcohol so that group norms can be identified. Each student can then compare his or her actions and attitudes to those of others. The program has been well received by junior high school youth, requires minimal teacher preparation, and appears promising for preventing abusive alcohol use. This article describes the technique's background, measurement and discussion methods, and implications for a range of prevention activities.