Chudley (Chad) Werch, PhD¹, Michele J. Moore, PhD², Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD³, Rhonda Bledsoe, MPH², and Edessa Jobli, MPH⁴. (1) Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, University of North Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216, (2) Center for Research on Substance Abuse, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, South, Jacksonville, FL 32224, (3) Department of Psychology, University of Maryland - Baltimore, 5401 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228-5398, (4) Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, University of Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216, 904-534-5107, ejobli@hhp.ufl.edu

Objectives. The primary purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of brief, physical activity and sport-themed preventive messages, including one-on-one fitness consultations implemented by fitness specialists and print materials, against commercial health and fitness print materials for reducing short-term (3-month) and long-term (12-month) alcohol consumption, as well as influencing risk and protective factors related to alcohol use. Methods. In fall 2002, a total of 604 participants, 335 9^th and 269 11^th grade students, from a suburban high school in the northeast Florida region were recruited to participate in this study. A randomized controlled trial was conducted, with participating students randomly assigned within grade level by computer to either the intervention (Project SPORT) or minimal intervention control group. Results. Overall MANCOVA tests at 3-month post-intervention were significant for alcohol consumption, alcohol initiation behaviors, alcohol use risk and protective factors, drug use behaviors, and exercise habits (p’s<.05), with those receiving SPORT having better outcomes than those receiving the minimal intervention control. At 12-months follow-up, significant overall MANCOVAs were found for alcohol use risk and protective factors, cigarette use, and cigarette initiation (p’s<.05), again with intervention adolescents showing better outcomes than controls. Conclusions. These findings indicate that brief, Project SPORT holds promise for reducing alcohol consumption and cigarette use, while increasing certain exercise habits among high school adolescents in the short-term, and influencing critical alcohol use risk and protective factors, the initiation of alcohol use, and the frequency of cigarette smoking and cigarette smoking initiation long-term.

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