Contact:
Richard Rice
(815) 753-9745
National Social Norms Resource Center

HIGH SCHOOLS LOWER TEEN TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL USE THROUGH SOCIAL NORMS INTERVENTIONS

CHICAGO, IL (July 22, 2004)— Social norms is an effective method of reducing tobacco and alcohol usage among high school students as reported today at the National Social Norms Conference in Chicago. High schools in Evanston and Naperville, Illinois, which have been among the first in the country to utilize a social norms model on the high school level, have witnessed significant reductions after just two years.

"The success among a growing number of colleges and universities in achieving significant reductions in high-risk drinking and related harmful behavior has paved the way for the social norms approach to be applied successfully in high schools and communities," said Michael Haines, Director of the National Social Norms Resource Center, which presented the conference. "We have developed a guidebook, introduced at the conference, so that high schools across the country can implement their own successful social norms campaigns."

A Guide to Marketing Social Norms for Health Promotion in Schools and Communities is the first comprehensive, step-by-step manual for those who are interested in using the social norms approach to address school age and community-wide issues. The guide explains in depth the five stages necessary for a successful social norms campaign, including initial planning, data collection, strategy development, implementation and evaluation.

Strength in Numbers was launched in November 2001 targeting Evanston Township (IL) High School students, parents and staff. The campaign included a yearly survey developed by the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois, focus groups conducted periodically throughout the year, and postcards, ads and promotional items displayed and distributed throughout the community. After the second year of implementation, data showed a 4% decrease in the percentage point of students who use tobacco regularly (which equates to a 25% reduction in the proportion of students) and a 5% decrease in the percentage point of students who use alcohol regularly (which equates to an 11% reduction in the proportion of students). Due to the initial success, the campaign is now expanding to include middle school students and their parents.

The Naperville social norms marketing campaign also began in 2001. A survey of a random sample of 9-11th grade students indicated that students thought that only 9% of students their age never smoke, when in reality, 75% reported they do not smoke cigarettes. Seeking to correct this misperception, students were targeted with a poster campaign for the next 16 months, after which they were resurveyed. Results show a 7% reduction in perceived peer tobacco use and an 8% reduction in actual tobacco use. A new campaign, focusing on underage drinking, began in January 2004 and will continue for the next four years.

"Social norms is truly a cost-effective method of achieving widespread results that focuses on positive behaviors as opposed to scare tactics," remarked Haines. "We are encouraged by these early findings and hope for additional successes in the other communities, such as the two in Massachusetts participating in the Social Norms Alcohol Problem Prevention for Youth (SNAPPY) project, experimenting with the social norms model."