UNODC-Lcif Case Control Trials of Lionsquest Skills for Adolescence in South East Europe: Research Results and Policy Implications

UNODC has an ongoing global initiative promoting evidence based prevention programmes in line with the UNODC International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (focusing on low and middle income countries). The UNODC collaboration with Lions Clubs International Foundation availed the opportunity to pilot Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence (LQSFA) as part of this initiative. LQSFA is a programme targeting elementary school age students and built on a Social and Emotional Learning approach. The abbreviated (40 session) version of the LQSFA programme was used during this pilot in close coordination and partnership with the Ministries of Education of the concerned countries.

Following translation and adaptation of LQSFA, a total of 5,041 elementary school students (2,954 cases and 2,087 controls) from 85 schools in Serbia, Montenegro and FYRO Macedonia participated in the pilot. The programme was implemented through 231 teachers trained on its content. Pretest and posttest questionnaires were implemented at the beginning of the school year (t0) and at the end of it (t1), in both cases and controls. An analysis of the change of the indicators (delta change) between t0 and t1 was undertaken in cases and controls, by country.

The average age of the students was 13.3 years (47% to 50% of the sample- depending on the country- were girls). The programme showed a significant effect on ever use, current use and intention to use in the next 3 months of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana. It also has improved refusal skills of these three substances as well as the normative belief associated to their use among peers. The perception of harm of such substances was also positively affected.

This impact was noted despite challenges in implementation (only a few of these schools managed to undertake all 40 sessions of LQSFA in one academic year).

This paper will discuss the results recorded while presenting the challenges and lessons learned during operations. It will also put into perspective how results from this pilot further advocated for change in the quality and type of prevention interventions at the political level within the UNODC ongoing technical assistance to its Member States to avail evidence based responses and systems.