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Long‐Term Impact of the Gatehouse Project on Cannabis Use of 16‐Year‐Olds in Australia
Author(s) -
Bond Lyndal,
Thomas Lyndal,
Coffey Carolyn,
Glover Sara,
Butler Helen,
Carlin John B.,
Patton George
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb06597.x
Subject(s) - attrition , medicine , cannabis , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , confounding , randomized controlled trial , demography , psychiatry , surgery , dentistry , pathology , sociology
This study examined the impact of a school‐based preventive intervention on cannabis use in adolescence, using a cluster‐randomized trial of a multilevel intervention aimed at improving social relationships within schools by promoting change in school environment. Four waves of data were collected at baseline (1997, Year 8: mean age 13 years) and six, 18, and 30 months later (1999, Year 10: mean age 16 years). Self‐reported substance use, school engagement, and sociodemographic data were collected using computer‐administered questionnaires. Some 2,678 (74%) Year 8 students participated (wave 1) with minimal attrition (10% by wave 4). Adjusting for baseline use, weak evidence existed for an intervention effect on the prevalence of any use at Year 10 (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.54, 1.05) and incident weekly use (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.39, 1.33). These effects were reduced after adjusting for confounders. Moderate evidence suggested an interaction effect between intervention group and tobacco use (p = 0.04), suggesting the intervention was more effective for non‐smokers at baseline (Adj. OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26, 0.98). This study indicates that a multi‐level school‐based program may provide an innovative direction for sustainable school interventions with the potential to reduce substance use.