Secondary Effects of a Universal Internet-Based Program to Prevent Alcohol and Cannabis Use Amongst Australian Adolescents: Reducing Truancy, Moral Disengagement and Psychological Distress

Introduction: The Climate Schools universal internet-based preventive intervention has been proven to reduce the frequency of alcohol and cannabis use, and increase alcohol and cannabis related knowledge amongst adolescents. As this intervention aims to reduce substance use behaviour by increasing resistance to peer pressure, teaching generic competency sills and promoting positive choices, the aim of this study was to examine the extent to which this approach can also reduce associated risk-factors and psychological distress in adolescents.

Method:  A cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted in Sydney, Australia to assess the efficacy of the universal Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis course. The evidence-based course is facilitated by the internet and consists of 12 novel and curriculum consistent lessons delivered over six months. A total of 764, Year 8 students (mean age: 13.1 years) from 10 Australian secondary schools were randomly allocated to the internet-based prevention program (n=397, five schools), or to their usual health classes (n=367, five schools). Participants were assessed at baseline, immediately post, and six and twelve months following completion of the intervention on their levels of truancy, psychological distress, moral disengagement and self-efficacy to resist peer pressure for transgressive behaviours.

Results: Results show that compared to the control group, students in the intervention group showed significant reductions in truancy, psychological distress and moral disengagement up to 12 months following completion of the intervention. No difference was found between groups on levels of self-efficacy to resist peer pressure.

Conclusions: These intervention effects indicate that internet-based preventive interventions designed to prevent alcohol and cannabis use, can concurrently reduce other associated risk-behaviours and psychological distress in adolescents.