DIGEST - Volume 11, Issue 3-FULL ISSUE

12 TPC Digest | TPC Digest Louisa L. Foss-Kelly, Margaret M. Generali, Michael J. Crowley Making Choices and Reducing Risk (MCARR) S ubstance use among adolescents is a persistent problem with long-term and sometimes tragic consequences. As experts in primary prevention, school counselors are naturally poised to address substance use within their unique school community. This article describes a study of a classroom curriculum designed to help prevent substance use and promote skills of resiliency that may help protect students against future use. T his article introduces the Making Choices and Reducing Risk (MCARR) program, a school counselor–implemented drug and alcohol prevention program. The MCARR is administered by school counselors and uses motivational interviewing and risk reduction principles as a foundation for relating to students. Motivational interviewing is a respectful approach that may empower students to make their own good choices about substance use. The MCARR includes elements of the CRAFFT screening instrument to help students learn how to assess substance use risk for themselves and those around them. Students are also provided with general information about neurophysiological processes involved in the use of alcohol and drugs. In addition, students contribute to discussions about the negative impact of substance use on students’ athletic, academic, and interpersonal activities. In this way, the MCARR aims to shift attitudes about substance use to prevent later concerns about use. The MCARR also implements rehearsal of refusal skills, analysis of peer influences, and general coping and self-regulation behaviors. In this article, the researchers describe a study of the MCARR as implemented with 46 ninth graders during an academic year. Student knowledge, attitudes, and substance use were measured both pre- and post- implementation. Results suggested that the MCARR may have a beneficial impact on student attitudes and knowledge. Further, no appreciable increases in substance use during the program were observed. These initial results point to the promise of program feasibility and the need for further research with larger samples including assessment of longitudinal impact. Louisa L. Foss-Kelly, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC, is a professor at Southern Connecticut State University. Margaret M. Generali, PhD, is a certified school counselor and a professor and department chair at Southern Connecticut State University. Michael J. Crowley, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and an associate professor at Yale University. Correspondence may be addressed to Louisa L. Foss-Kelly, Counseling and School Psychology, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, CT 06515, fossl1@southernct.edu . School Counseling Primary Prevention of Substance Use Read full article and references: Foss-Kelly, L. L., Generali, M. M., & Crowley, M. J. (2021). Making Choices and Reducing Risk (MCARR): School counseling primary prevention of substance use. The Professional Counselor, 11 (3), 352–369. doi: 10.15241/llfk.11.3.352