title: Alcohol Prevention and School Students: Findings From an Australian 2-Year Trial of Integrated Harm Minimization School Drug Education.
abstract: The Drug Education in Victorian Schools program provided integrated education about licit and illicit drugs, employed a harm minimization approach that incorporated participatory, critical thinking and skill-based teaching methods, and engaged parental influence through home activities. A cluster-randomized, controlled trial of the program was conducted with a student cohort during Year 8 (13 years) and Year 9 (14 years). Twenty-one secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, were randomly allocated to the Drug Education in Victorian Schools program (14 schools, n = 1,163) or their usual drug education program (7 schools, n = 589). This study reports program effects for alcohol. There was a greater increase in the intervention students' knowledge about drugs, including alcohol; there was a greater increase in communication with parents about alcohol; they recalled receiving more alcohol education; their alcohol consumption increased less; and they experienced a lesser increase in alcohol-related harms. Among intervention group risky drinkers, consumption and harm increased less. There were no differences between study groups in attitudes toward alcohol or in the proportion of drinkers or risky drinkers. While the program did not stop students taking up drinking, it did reduce their consumption and harm.
authors: Charles Darwin University and Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Australia richard.midford@cdu.edu.au.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Midford
authors: Royal Far West, Manly, Australia.
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Ramsden
authors: University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors: Leanne
authors: L
authors: Lester
authors: The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Cahill
authors: Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Australia.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Mitchell
authors: Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Foxcroft
authors: Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Dandenong, Australia.
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Venning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Australia; alcohol; cluster-randomized controlled trial; harm minimization; high school students; school drug education