NCT03129334

Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse in Middle School Students

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 4,500 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Health Promotion Associates, Inc. · Industry
• Sex: All
• Age: 11 Years – 14 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This project is designed to test a primary prevention approach to the problem of prescription drug misuse and abuse (PDA) among middle school students. The intervention uses both online e-learning and small group facilitator-led intervention modalities. Middle schools will be randomized to receive the intervention or serve as controls.

Detailed description

While there are a number of drug abuse prevention programs for middle school age youth, relatively few programs focus on preventing prescription drug abuse. Furthermore, due to growing constraints on classroom time, new evidence-based prevention programs are needed that flexibly incorporate the use of online digital technology and classroom/small-group components. The present study is developing and testing an adaptation of the evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention approach called Life Skills Training (LST). The proposed preventive intervention for middle school PDA will (1) utilize both online digital and face-to-face intervention modalities to address PDA and concurrent ATOD use; (2) positively change social norms and challenge positive expectancies regarding PDA and ATOD use; (3) discourage diversion of prescription medications; and (4) enhance protective factors by building social and self-regulation skills through interactive learning and behavioral rehearsal scenarios. Middle schools will be randomized into either an intervention group that will receive the new intervention or a treatment-as-usual control group that will receive existing health education programming. At the end of the intervention period, and at a 12-month follow-up assessments, we will compare both groups with respect to changes in behaviors, norms, attitudes, and knowledge regarding PDA and substance use.

Conditions

• Prescription Drug Abuse (Not Dependent)
• Substance Use
• Substance Abuse

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	LST Middle School Online	The adapted intervention will (1) utilize both online e-learning module (self-guided) and classroom-based sessions (facilitator led) to address PDA and concurrent ATOD abuse; (2) positively change social norms and challenge positive expectancies regarding PDA and ATOD abuse; (3) discourage diversion of prescription medications; (4) enhance protective factors by building social and self-regulation skills through interactive learning and behavioral rehearsal scenarios; and (5) incorporate booster sessions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-09-01
• Primary completion: 2020-06-01
• Completion: 2020-06-01
• First posted: 2017-04-26
• Last updated: 2020-02-25