School-based Alcohol Prevention Programs Research Articles

Prevention of Alcohol Consumption Programs for Children and Youth: A Narrative and Critical Review of Recent Publications.

BackgroundYouth substance use is a public health problem globally, where alcohol is one of the drugs most consumed by children, and youth prevention is the best intervention for drug abuse.ObjectiveReview the latest evidence of alcohol use prevention programs in empirical research, oriented to all fields of action among children and youth.MethodsA narrative and critical review was carried out within international databases (PsychInfo, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus) in August 2021 and was limited to empirical studies that appeared in the last five years (2017–2021). A flow diagram was used according to the PRISMA statements. Empirical research articles in English with RCTs and quasi-experimental design that included alcohol, children, and young people up to 19 years of age (universal, selective, or indicated programs) were included. The authors examined the results and conceptual frameworks of the Prevention programs by fields of action.ResultsTwenty-two articles were found from four fields of action: school (16), family (2), community (2), and web-based (2), representing 16 alcohol prevention programs. School-based alcohol prevention programs are clinically relevant [Theory of Planned Behavior, Refuse, Remove, Reasons, Preventure, The GOOD Life, Mantente REAL, Motivational Interviewing (BIMI), Primavera, Fresh Start, Bridges/Puentes], they are effective in increasing attitudes and intentions toward alcohol prevention behavior, while decreasing social norms and acceptance of alcohol, reducing intoxication, and increasing perceptions with regards to the negative consequences of drinking.DiscussionThis narrative and critical review provides an updated synthesis of the evidence for prevention programs in the school, family, community, and web-based fields of action, where a more significant number of programs exist that are applied within schools and for which would have greater clinical relevance. However, the prevention programs utilized in the other fields of action require further investigation.

A Web-Based Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program (Strong & Deadly Futures) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Students: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundThere are no available school-based alcohol and drug prevention programs with evidence of effectiveness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. To address this, we codeveloped the Strong & Deadly Futures well-being and alcohol and drug prevention program in partnership with an Indigenous creative design agency and 4 Australian schools.ObjectiveThis paper presents the protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of Strong & Deadly Futures in reducing alcohol and other drug use and improving well-being among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.MethodsThe target sample will be 960 year 7 and 8 students from 24 secondary schools in Australia, of which approximately 40% (384/960) will identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The study design is a 2-group, parallel cluster randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment. Recruited schools will be block randomized (ratio 1:1), stratified by geographical remoteness, by an independent statistician. Schools will be randomized to receive Strong & Deadly Futures, a web-based alcohol and drug prevention and social and emotional well-being program that delivers curriculum-aligned content over 6 lessons via an illustrated story, or health education as usual (control). Control schools will be supported to implement Strong & Deadly Futures following trial completion. Surveys will be administered at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 months, and 24 months (primary end point) post baseline. Primary outcomes are alcohol use (adapted from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey), tobacco use (Standard High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey), and psychological distress (Kessler-5 Psychological Distress Scale). Secondary outcomes are alcohol and drug knowledge and intentions, alcohol-related harms, binge drinking, cannabis use, well-being, empowerment, appreciation of cultural diversity, and truancy.ResultsThe trial was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in January 2019, approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Sydney (2020/039, April 2020), the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales (1620/19, February 2020), the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (998, October 2021), and the ethics committees of each participating school, including the New South Wales Department of Education (2020170, June 2020), Catholic Education Western Australia (RP2020/39, November 2020), and the Queensland Department of Education (550/27/2390, August 2021). Projected dates of data collection are 2022-2024, and we expect to publish the results in 2025. A total of 24 schools have been recruited as of submission of the manuscript.ConclusionsThis will be the first cluster randomized controlled trial of a culturally inclusive, school-based alcohol and drug prevention program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth; therefore, it has significant potential to address alcohol and other drug harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620001038987; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=380038&isReview=trueInternational Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/34530

"Klar bleiben" (keep aclear head)-acompetition for school classes to reduce alcohol consumption

In Germany, alcohol is the most popular drug among adolescents. So far, school-based alcohol prevention programs have focused on elementary school children and pupils in early adolescence. The school program "Klar bleiben" ("Keep aClear Head") was especially designed for young people in late adolescence (10thgraders) with the aim of establishing non-binge drinking as asocial norm.Students in the participating classes commit themselves to abstain from binge drinking for six weeks (contract management). The class gives feedback after each week. After at least five positive feedbacks, the class is rated as successful and enters aprize draw. Elaborated teaching impulses and information resources for teachers and parents are further components of the prevention program.The evaluation of the class competition by 92teachers can be regarded as consistently positive. The results of acluster-randomized study showed arelative risk reduction of 10.4% in binge drinking in the last month for those adolescents who had already consumed alcohol before and belong to the intervention group. After the end of the intervention, this group of adolescents consumed an average of 0.19 fewer alcoholic beverages per drinking occasion compared to adolescents from the control group. The findings presented here are encouraging, keeping in mind that the intervention is relatively inexpensive.

Drinking Status and Effects of School-based Alcohol Prevention Programs in Middle and High School Students: Using the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey Data

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of school-based alcohol prevention programs on drinking statuses of adolescents. Methods: The findings of this study was based on the data obtained from the '2015 11th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The number of study subjects were 68,043. Results: It was figured that 35.6% of the study subjects had experienced school-based alcohol prevention programs within the last 12 months. As the students got older, the chances to participate in the programs decreased (p<.01). For both middle and high school students, current drinking rates for the educated was lower than those of the uneducated students(6.6% vs 8.0%; 22.2% vs 25.9%) and it was statistically significant. A similar pattern was found for high-risk drinking rates. Those educated showed lower rates than the uneducated with statistical significance of p<.001. In addition, the educated had lower problem drinking rate than the uneducated for both middle (p<.05) and high school students (p<.001). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that school-based alcohol prevention programs had statistically significant effect on current drinking status of adolescents (p<.05). However, it had significant effect only on high-risk drinking status of high school students (p<.05) and had no effect on problem drinking. Conclusion: This study addressed effectiveness of school-based adolescent alcohol prevention programs and that it is important to develop means to implement school health education.

The Effectiveness of School-Based Alcohol Prevention Programs for Adolescents in Korea: A Meta-Analysis

본 연구는 한국의 학교기반 청소년 음주예방프로그램의 효과를 알아보기 위해 메타분석을 실시하였다. PRISMA(Preferred Reporting Items for SystematicReviews and Meta-Analysis) 가이드라인에 따라 2015년 6월까지 출판된 연구물을 체계적으로 수집하고, 각 기준에 따라 선별한 결과 총 12편이 메타분석 대상 논문으로 선정되었다. CMA 2.0 프로그램을 활용하여 평균효과크기, 조절효과, 출판오류분석을 실시하였다. 주요 연구결과로 첫째, 학교기반 음주예방프로그램의 효과를 보고한 주요 변인에서 음주지식(g=1.004), 음주태도(g=-.777),음주거절자기효능감(g=.592) 순으로 효과크기를 보였고, 모두 중간크기 이상의효과크기를 보였다. 즉 학교기반 음주예방프로그램이 청소년의 음주지식, 음주태도, 음주거절자기효능감을 변화시키는 데 효과가 있음을 보여준다. 둘째, 조절효과를 살펴본 결과 음주지식이 프로그램 내용에 따라 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 즉, 음주지식에 대한 정보전달과 함께 사회적 영향을 함께 다룬 프로그램이 다른 프로그램보다 효과크기가 더 큰 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구결과를 토대로 학교기반 음주예방프로그램에서 사회적 영향모델에 따른 접근과 실천현장에서의 근거기반실천 강화 방안에 대해 제언하였다.

Effects of sex composition on group processes in alcohol prevention groups for teens.

Although most alcohol and other drug prevention programs for adolescents are offered in group settings, little is known about the possible effects of sex composition on group processes and mechanisms of change. Using the Group Actor-Partner Interdependence Model framework, we examined how the sex constellation of adolescent prevention group members influenced youth satisfaction, engagement, and endorsement of healthy behavior during group. Participants in Project Options (N = 379; 61.8% girls; Mage = 16.1; SD = 1.4), a voluntary school-based alcohol prevention program, completed measures of satisfaction at each prevention session and observers rated engagement and change talk for each group. When analyses were oriented toward girls, their personal satisfaction, group-rated satisfaction, and group-level engagement were positively related to having more girls in the group. Similarly, in boys, personal satisfaction, satisfaction of the group as a whole, and engagement in groups improved when groups were composed of more girls. Statements supportive of healthy alcohol/drug-related decision making were unrelated to group composition. The findings suggest that the composition of girls and boys in groups has differential effects on some group processes. This avenue of research has merit for understanding the mechanisms associated with satisfaction and engagement in adolescent substance use prevention programs.

Preventing alcohol use with a universal school-based intervention: results from an effectiveness study.

BackgroundThe effectiveness of the universal school-based alcohol prevention program “Unge & Rus” [Youth & Alcohol] was tested by an independent research group. The program aims to prevent alcohol use and to change adolescents’ alcohol-related attitudes. The main outcome measure was frequency of monthly alcohol use, favorable alcohol attitudes, perceived behavioral control (PBC), positive alcohol expectancy and alcohol-related knowledge.MethodsJunior high school students (N = 2,020) with a mean age of 13.5 years participated in this longitudinal pre, post and one-year follow-up study with a quasi-experimental design, involving an intervention group and a comparison group recruited from 41 junior high schools in Norway. Multilevel analysis was used to account for the repeated observations (level 1) nested within students (level 2) who in turn were clustered within school classes (level 3).ResultsResults showed an increased level of alcohol-related knowledge in the intervention group (p < .005) as compared to the comparison group at one-year follow-up. However, no significant difference in change was found between the intervention group and the comparison group in frequency of monthly alcohol use, alcohol-related attitudes, PBC or alcohol expectancy at one-year follow-up.ConclusionsThis study offers adequate data on the effectiveness of a school-based alcohol prevention program widely implemented in Norway. Under its current method of implementation, use of the program cannot be supported over the use of standard alcohol curriculum within schools.

A Systematic Review of School-Based Alcohol and other Drug Prevention Programs.

Background: Alcohol use in adolescents constitutes a major public health concern. Europe is the heaviest drinking region of the world. Several school-based alcohol prevention programs have been developed but it is not clear whether they are really effective. The present study was aimed at identifying the typology with the best evidence of effectiveness in European studies. Methods: A systematic search of meta-analyses and/or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interventions school-based prevention programs aimed at preventing alcohol consumption or changing the attitudes to consume alcohol. Results: A meta-analysis published in 2011 and 12 RCTs more recently published were identified. The meta-analysis evaluated 53 RCTs but only 11.3% of them were conducted in Europe. Globally, 23 RCTs (43.4%) showed some evidence of effectiveness, and 30 RCTs (56.6%) did not find significant difference between the groups. According to the conclusions of the meta-analysis, the Unplugged program should be considered as a practice option in Europe. Among the other 12 RCTs, 42% were conducted in Europe. Globally, 7 studies (58.3%) achieved positive results, and 5 studies (41.7%) did not find significant differences or produced a mixed pattern of results. Three of the 5 European trials (60%) used the Unplugged program with positive results. Conclusion: Even if further studies should be conducted to confirm these results, Unplugged appears to be the prevention project with the best evidence of effectiveness in European studies.

A systematic review of school‐based alcohol and other drug prevention programs facilitated by computers or the Internet

The use of alcohol and drugs amongst young people is a serious concern and the need for effective prevention is clear. This paper identifies and describes current school-based alcohol and other drug prevention programs facilitated by computers or the Internet. The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and PubMed databases were searched in March 2012. Additional materials were obtained from reference lists of papers. Studies were included if they described an Internet- or computer-based prevention program for alcohol or other drugs delivered in schools. Twelve trials of 10 programs were identified. Seven trials evaluated Internet-based programs and five delivered an intervention via CD-ROM. The interventions targeted alcohol, cannabis and tobacco. Data to calculate effect size and odds ratios were unavailable for three programs. Of the seven programs with available data, six achieved reductions in alcohol, cannabis or tobacco use at post intervention and/or follow up. Two interventions were associated with decreased intentions to use tobacco, and two significantly increased alcohol and drug-related knowledge. This is the first study to review the efficacy of school-based drug and alcohol prevention programs delivered online or via computers. Findings indicate that existing computer- and Internet-based prevention programs in schools have the potential to reduce alcohol and other drug use as well as intentions to use substances in the future. These findings, together with the implementation advantages and high fidelity associated with new technology, suggest that programs facilitated by computers and the Internet offer a promising delivery method for school-based prevention.

Developing a school-based drug prevention program to overcome barriers to effective program implementation: The CLIMATE schools: Alcohol module

Although effective school-based alcohol prevention programs do exist, the overall efficacy of these programs has been compromised by implementation failure. The CLIMATE Schools: Alcohol Module was developed to overcome some of the obstacles to high fidelity program implementation. This paper details this development of the CLIMATE Schools: Alcohol Module. The development involved two stages, both of which were considered essential. The first stage, involved reviewing the literature to ensure the program was based on the most effecttive pedagogy and health promotion practice and the second stage involved collaborating with teachers, students and specialists in the area of alcohol and other drugs, to ensure these goals were realised. The final CLIMATE Schools: Alcohol Module consists of computer-driven harm minimisation program which is based on a social influence approach. The program consists of six lessons, each with two components. The first component involves students completing an interactive computer-based program, with the second consisting of a variety of individual, small group and class-based activities. This program was developed to provide an innovative new platform for the delivery of drug education and has proven to be both feasible and effective in the school environment. The success of this program is considered to be testament to this collaborative development approach.

A School-Based Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Prevention Program for Children: The Wise Mind Study

The Wise Mind pilot study compared the efficacy of an environmental Alcohol/Tobacco/Drug (ATD) prevention program with an obesity prevention program of Healthy Eating and Exercise (HEE) as an active control group for modifying expectancies related to alcohol and tobacco use in children. Four Catholic schools (N = 670 students) were randomly assigned to the treatment conditions (2 schools in each condition). Children were followed over two academic years. At an 18-month assessment, the ATD program resulted in healthier alcohol and tobacco expectancies as compared to the HEE program. Children in the ATD program did not differ from those in the HEE program in alcohol, tobacco, or drug use prevalence. However, prevalence rates of use were very low across all schools. Findings can benefit future prevention efforts with young children and suggest that strategies for preventing continued smoking in this age group are needed.

Adolescent Satisfaction with Brief Motivational Enhancement for Alcohol Abuse

Although many investigations point to the importance of treatment satisfaction and working alliance as predictors of treatment engagement and outcome, few studies have closely examined these issues among adolescents. This study investigates satisfaction among a nonclinical adolescent sample participating in a school-based alcohol-prevention program. Adolescents self-selected to one of three formats: individual, group, and website. Three hundred nineteen satisfaction measures completed at the time of each participant's final session were used for analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses examined predictors of consumer satisfaction. In general, greater participation in the program was significantly related to satisfaction. Students who participated in the group and individual formats reported greater satisfaction than students who participated in the website format. Current alcohol users were less satisfied with the session focusing on how experimental use can lead to problem use; lifetime abstainers were more satisfied with the session focusing on stress and coping. These analyses have implications for informing future adolescent school-based interventions for alcohol problems.

Long‐Term Follow‐Up of a High School Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program's Effect on Students' Subsequent Driving

Alcohol-related injuries, particularly motor vehicle, are an important cause of adolescent mortality. School-based alcohol prevention programs have not been evaluated in terms of driving outcomes. This study examined the effects on subsequent driving of a high school-based alcohol prevention program. The Alcohol Misuse Prevention Study included a randomized test of the effectiveness of an alcohol misuse prevention curriculum conducted among 4,635 10th-grade students. Students were assigned to intervention (n = 1,820) or control (n = 2,815) groups and were followed for an average of 7.6 years after licensure, which typically occurred during or shortly after 10th grade. Outcomes examined included alcohol-related and other serious offenses, and at-fault, single-vehicle, and alcohol-related crashes. Only serious offenses (which included alcohol-related) had a significant treatment effect (statistically marginal) after we adjusted for sex, age, race, alcohol use/misuse, family structure, presence of prelicense offenses, age of driver licensure, and parental attitudes toward teen drinking. The effect was found only during the first year of licensure (estimated adjusted relative risk = 0.80, confidence interval = 0.63-1.01). Two first-year serious offense interactions were found. The positive effect was strongest among the largest subgroup of students, those who were drinking less than one drink per week on average before the curriculum, compared with those who drank more than one drink per week (p = 0.009). The effect was also stronger for the small subgroup of students whose parents had not expressed disapproval of teens' drinking, compared with those whose parents had disapproved (p = 0.004). These findings suggest that a high school-based alcohol prevention program can positively affect subsequent driving, particularly that of students who do not use alcohol regularly. The results highlight the need to start prevention efforts early and extend them beyond the initial exposure to driving. Programs should incorporate the differing backgrounds of the students.

A Model of Data Collection on School-Based Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Prevention Programs

A school district's Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) prevention programs are analyzed. A protocol is developed to collect data on school-based AOD prevention programs.

Adolescent drinking and driving: etiology and interpretation.

In the adolescent population, drinking and driving is an important cause of injury, disability and premature death. A literature review of the demographics and etiology of drinking and drinking/driving reveals: 1) which subgroups of the adolescent population are more likely to drink and drink/drive; 2) where and why adolescents drink and drink/drive; 3) peer and family issues associated with adolescent drinking and drinking/driving; and 4) adolescent expectancies and perceived efficacies associated with drinking and drinking/driving. A discussion of the role of theory and the use of etiologic data in intervention research precedes an overview of several types of school-based alcohol-prevention programs and recommendations for more theory based interventions.

School-based alcohol prevention programs : W. B. Hansen. Alcohol Health & Research World, 17(1), 54–60.

School-based alcohol prevention programs : W. B. Hansen. Alcohol Health & Research World, 17(1), 54–60.

School-Based Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs

Evaluation and implementation recommendations for school-based alcohol and other drug prevention programs