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Effectiveness of a universal internet‐based prevention program for ecstasy and new psychoactive substances: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Champion Katrina E.,
Newton Nicola C.,
Stapinski Lexine A.,
Teesson Maree
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.13345
Subject(s) - ecstasy , confidence interval , intervention (counseling) , medicine , randomized controlled trial , odds ratio , drug education , cluster randomised controlled trial , cluster (spacecraft) , psychology , psychiatry , substance abuse , computer science , programming language
Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of an online school‐based prevention program for ecstasy (MDMA) and new psychoactive substances (NPS). Design Cluster randomized controlled trial with two groups (intervention and control). Setting Eleven secondary schools in Australia. Participants A total of 1126 students (mean age: 14.9 years). Intervention The internet‐based Climate Schools : Ecstasy and Emerging Drugs module uses cartoon storylines to convey information about harmful drug use. It was delivered once weekly, during a 4‐week period, during health education classes. Control schools received health education as usual. Measurement Primary outcomes were self‐reported intentions to use ecstasy and NPS at 12 months. Secondary outcomes were ecstasy and NPS knowledge and life‐time use of ecstasy and NPS. Surveys were administered at baseline, post‐intervention and 6 and 12 month post‐baseline. Findings At 12 months, the proportion of students likely to use NPS was significantly greater in the control group (1.8%) than the intervention group [0.5%; odds ratio (OR) = 10.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31–78.91]. However, students' intentions to use ecstasy did not differ significantly between groups (control = 2.1%, intervention = 1.6%; OR = 5.91, 95% CI = 1.01–34.73). There was a significant group difference in the change from baseline to post‐test for NPS knowledge (β = − 0.42, 95% CI = −0.62 to −0.21, Cohen's d = 0.77), with controls [mean = 2.78, standard deviation (SD = 1.48] scoring lower than intervention students (mean = 3.85, SD = 1.49). There was also evidence of a significant group difference in ecstasy knowledge at post‐test (control: mean = 9.57, SD = 3.31; intervention: mean = 11.57, SD = 3.61; β = −0.54, 95% CI = −0.97 to −0.12, P = 0.01, d = 0.73). Conclusions The Climate Schools : Ecstasy and Emerging Drugs module , a universal online school‐based prevention program, appeared to reduce students' intentions to use new psychoactive substances and increased knowledge about ecstasy and new psychoactive substances in the short term.