Preventing alcohol harm: Early results from a cluster randomised, controlled trial in Victoria, Australia of comprehensive harm minimisation school drug education

Midford, Richard; Mitchell, Johanna; Lester, Leanne; Cahill, Helen; Foxcroft, David; Ramsden, Robyn; Venning, Lynne; Pose, Michelle

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.05.012

Cited by 43 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The lessons recalled by the intervention students dropped significantly below the controls at Post3, reflecting that no DEVS program cannabis lessons were given in year three. Data collected from the same study and reported previously also found that intervention students were more knowledgeable about drug use issues, including cannabis use [23][24][25].…”

Section: Issn: 2330-2178supporting

confidence: 64%

Cannabis and Harm Minimisation Drug Education: Findings from the Drug Education in Victorian Schools Study

2014

J Addict & Prev

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Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated harm minimisation focused school drug education programme in terms of reducing cannabis use and harm. Design and Methods:A cluster randomised controlled trial of the 18 lesson Drug Education in Victorian Schools (DEVS) drug education programme was undertaken with students during years eight and nine (13 and 14 years of age respectively), with follow up in year ten (15 years of age). The programme covered all drugs, employed a harm minimisation approach that used participatory, critical thinking and skills based teaching methods, and engaged parental influence through home activities. Twenty-one secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, were randomly allocated to receive the DEVS programme (14 schools) or the drug education usually provided by their schools (7 schools). In relation to cannabis, communication with parents, lessons remembered, responsible attitudes, whether used, frequency of use and associated harms were measured. Results:In comparison to controls, there was a significantly greater increase in the intervention students' communication with parents about cannabis recall of cannabis lessons received, and responsible attitudes towards cannabis. While there were no significant differences between the two study groups in relation to the proportion of cannabis users, the increase in level of use by intervention students was significantly less and they experienced a lesser increase in associated harms. Conclusion:A harm minimisation focused school drug education programme reduced the level of cannabis use and associated harm. This supports harm minimisation education as an effective prevention strategy for school students.

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Section: Issn: 2330-2178supporting

confidence: 64%

Cannabis and Harm Minimisation Drug Education: Findings from the Drug Education in Victorian Schools Study

2014

J Addict & Prev

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“…The emphasis in relation to tackling social pressure would appear to vary across programmes, however. There are a number of programmes that have been piloted in the Australian context that have recounted a positive impact on young people's self-reported drinking behaviour (Champion, Newton, Barrett, & Teeson, 2013;Midford et al, 2014). The CLIMATE Schools alcohol module, for example, contains three components: information, a normative component and resistance skills training:…”

Section: Exploring the Context Of Alcohol Harmmentioning

confidence: 98%

Young people and alcohol – where’s the risk? Changing the focus of school-based prevention initiatives

Petrie

2016

Cambridge Journal of Education

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Research statistics highlighting the social costs of widespread excessive alcohol consumption have led to a proliferation of schoolbased prevention programmes that aim to give young people the skills and knowledge necessary to resist social pressure to drink alcohol and avoid potentially 'risky' consumption. Such interventions offer, however, limited evidence of long-term success. Drawing on a case study of a pilot programme developed by Alcohol Focus Scotland this paper illustrates the promotion of a critical social perspective motivating young people to consider instead the risk posed by the marketing techniques of the alcohol industry. It is argued that a pedagogical approach focusing on developing critical awareness rather than shaping individual behaviour has the potential to reframe our understanding of this type of preventive health education as a form of political literacy or citizenship education.

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“…Greater independence, coupled with the development of new skills, including driving and entry into the workplace at a time when peer acceptance is of heightened importance, leads to increased incidence of risk‐related harm. These changes, as well as increased experimentation with illicit substances and alcohol consumption, culminate in young people being more prone to certain injuries such as falls, transport injuries, unintentional poisoning and assault …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the Prevent Alcohol and Risk‐Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program among senior school students

Gunn

McLeod

Chapman

et al. 2018

Emerg Medicine Australasia

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Preventing alcohol harm: Early results from a cluster randomised, controlled trial in Victoria, Australia of comprehensive harm minimisation school drug education

Cited by 43 publications

References 22 publications

Cannabis and Harm Minimisation Drug Education: Findings from the Drug Education in Victorian Schools Study

Cannabis and Harm Minimisation Drug Education: Findings from the Drug Education in Victorian Schools Study

Young people and alcohol – where’s the risk? Changing the focus of school-based prevention initiatives

Effect of the Prevent Alcohol and Risk‐Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program among senior school students

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