A universal harm-minimisation approach to preventing psychostimulant and cannabis use in adolescents: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Psychostimulants and cannabis are two of the three most commonly used illicit drugs by young Australians. As such, it is important to deliver prevention for these substances to prevent their misuse and to reduce associated harms. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the universal computer-based Climate Schools: Psychostimulant and Cannabis Module. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 1734 Year 10 students (mean age = 15.44 years; SD = 0.41) from 21 secondary schools in Australia. Schools were randomised to receive either the six lesson computer-based Climate Schools program or their usual health classes, including drug education, over the year. RESULTS: The Climate Schools program was shown to increase knowledge of cannabis and psychostimulants and decrease pro-drug attitudes. In the short-term the program was effective in subduing the uptake and plateauing the frequency of ecstasy use, however there were no changes in meth/amphetamine use. In addition, females who received the program used cannabis significantly less frequently than students who received drug education as usual. Finally, the Climate Schools program was related to decreasing students' intentions to use meth/amphetamine and ecstasy in the future, however these effects did not last over time. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for the use of a harm-minimisation approach and computer technology as an innovative platform for the delivery of prevention education for illicit drugs in schools. The current study indicated that teachers and students enjoyed the program and that it is feasible to extend the successful Climate Schools model to the prevention of other drugs, namely cannabis and psychostimulants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000492752.
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School-based behavioral interventions are effective universal prevention interventions to minimize risk of bullying and peer rejection as well as substance abuse.
“school-based behavioral interventions to minimize risk of bullying and peer rejection [62, 63] as well as substance abuse [64, 65]”
From Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care? (2020) · cites this paper as [65]
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- Authors
- Vogl, L. E., Newton, N. C., Champion, K. E., & Teesson, M.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Newton, Nicola Clare
- Venue
- Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
- Published
- 2014-06-18
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 24-24
- ISSN
- 1747-597X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4074146
- OpenAlex
- W2098880539
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 4.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UNSWorks (UNSW Sydney) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Australian Government
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Keywords
- harm reduction, substance use prevention, psychostimulants, cannabis, adolescents, computer-based intervention, ecstasy, methamphetamine, medication knowledge, high school students, gender differences in drug use, intention to use
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Australia, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Marijuana Smoking, Surveys and Questionnaires, School Health Services, Sympathomimetics, User-Computer Interface, Amphetamine-Related Disorders, Harm Reduction
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