Project Chrysalis was a school-based program that provided services to female adolescents with histories of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Young women (14-17 years of age) were enrolled and assigned randomly either to a program or to a control condition. It was found that participation in Project Chrysalis was associated with outcomes such as healthier beliefs and attitudes about alcohol and other drug use and reduced initiation of tobacco and marijuana use. Participants also had fewer suicidal ideations and behaviors. It was shown that older participants (16 and 17 years of age) were less likely to attend Project Chrysalis activities than were younger participants and that the prevalence of depression and risk for suicide was higher among younger participants. That indicates that enrolling younger participants (11 through 14 years of age), before negative attitudes and behaviors have begun, might produce stronger positive effects.
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