Integrating Life Skills Into a Theory‐Based Drug‐Use Prevention Program: Effectiveness Among Junior High Students in Taiwan

Abstract

Study results demonstrated the effectiveness of a drug-use prevention program integrating the TPB and life skills.

Prevention of Illicit Drug Use Through a School-Based Program: Results of a Longitudinal, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The contents and learning activities of the drug use prevention program were described in detail in our previous report [13]. The TPB/life skills school-based intervention program was designed by our research team by following the seven evidence-based quality criteria for developing an intervention program for drug use prevention [16].…”

“…Table 1 summarizes the contents and learning activities of the booster sessions. The program contents and learning activities of the booster interventions were designed on the basis of the results of the pilot study we published previously [13], and furthermore modified on the basis of the outcome of in-depth interviews with selected participants of the pilot study 3 months after it was completed. The first booster comprised four 45-minute sessions and homework exercises, whereas the second booster comprised two 45-minute sessions and homework exercises.…”

“…Therefore, this study integrated TPB and life skills into the design of an adolescent drug use prevention program, relying on the TPB to provide structural psychosocial measures for predicting behavioral intention and behavior, and applying life skills as a strategy for competency enhancement and behavior modification. The present longitudinal, cluster-randomized controlled trial aimed mainly to examine the effectiveness of our intervention program for preventing illicit drug use and to validate our previous findings [13]. We also examined participants' attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, life skills, and intentions regarding illicit drugs.…”

“…We recently reported the development of a novel, theoretically based drug use prevention program for use in schools in Taiwan [13]. The program was designed by integrating life skills training into the theory of planned behavior (TPB).…”

Psycho-Social Strengthening Program for High-School Students: Targeting Female Students’ Attitudes Toward Drug Use

“…Studies have shown that life skills programs aimed at the prevention of adolescent substance use can have a positive influence in terms of bonding in a school context (23). Huang et al found that training in life skills can act as a protective factor and decrease drug use in later year (24). Considering the importance of psycho-social strengthening and its role in reducing high-risk behaviors, it is better to start this type of intervention at school from an early age, which is likely to lower the risk of substance use and have a lasting preventative effect.…”