Summer 2024

Researchers, educators, and public health professionals have been on a quest for nearly four decades to discover how to prevent drug abuse. While some prevention programs can produce a positive impact on knowledge and attitudes, few can actually impact behavior. And as rare as it is to find a prevention program that works, it’s truly rare to find a prevention program that can produce effects that are durable and long-lasting. 

The LST program is one of those very rare programs. Rather than relying on teaching health information about the negative effects of drug use, LST uses a positive youth development approach designed to enhance social and personal competence – life skills.  

LST has been rigorously tested in numerous well-designed and well-executed studies that time after time have proven it works. Evidence published in over 30 top scientific journals convincingly show that it can prevent tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. But do the effects last? Thanks to the results of a recently published study, we now have the answer. 

A new study, published in the Journal of Public Health Research, examined long-term follow-up data from a large-scale randomized trial testing LST. Over 2000 students who received LST in the seventh grade were followed up in their mid-20s, some 13 years later. Rates of illicit drug use were significantly lower for the students who had received LST compared to the control students who received the usual health education program offered by their schools. Rates of marijuana use, marijuana intoxication, and non-medical pill use were also significantly lower for the LST students than for the students in the control group. 

Numerous studies show that LST works. And the results of this new study show that the effects are durable and long-lasting. This study, together with the large body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of LST, make a strong argument for the widespread implementation of LST. It also begs the question: why isn’t every school providing their students with such a powerful prevention program? 

A common dilemma for LST providers is whether to assess participant competency in LST lessons. The continuum of options ranges from no assessment to a participation credit to unit quizzes and tests. Beginning with an understanding of the policies and practices of your organization and best practices in your profession, consider how assessment can encourage participants and providers to:

• clarify the goals and objectives of each LST lesson
• increase participant readiness to learn and transfer to like situations
• facilitate engagement in discussions and skill practice
• assure each participant succeeds  

What Should I Assess?

In the broadest sense participants in the LST Program should understand facts and concepts, and demonstrate skills and behaviors, that reduce substance use and violence. Each lesson in the LST program lists the specific learning goals and objectives that are the targets for assessment.These goals and objectives are found on the lesson overview page in Teacher’s Manual. 

What types of assessment are appropriate for LST?

Assessment is those methods facilitators use to appraise learning progress and achievement – their own and their participants. There are two types of assessment commonly used in educational settings – formative and summative. Formative assessment refers to frequent, interactive methods for gathering snapshots of students’ development and to adjust teaching style or methods. Summative assessment evaluates student learning at the end of a lesson or unit by comparing it against criteria, most commonly using graded quizzes or tests. It’s common to use a mixture of these methods. 

 Both types of assessment are appropriate for LST. The most effective assessments are those that use a balance of formative and summative techniques.Consider mixed use of visual, verbal, written, digital and kinesthetic methods.

What are some examples of formative and summative assessments? The LifeSkills Training program, with its emphasis on skill practice and application of concepts to real world events, lends itself to practices and techniques in formative and summative assessment. Here are some examples of formative and summative assessment methods.

Examples of Assessment Activities

Summary

Effective assessment, whether formative or summative, provides both the student and provider with insight into their progress and achievement towards learning goals. Broad targets for assessment in the LST program include understanding of pro-health concepts and demonstration of pro health skills. Select the mix of methods that work best at your site and which communicates to your students the value of what you are assessing.