UNODC-Lcif Multisite Case Control Trials of Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence in South East Europe

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/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 LQSFA was used during pilot in close coordination and partnership with the Ministries of Education of 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. Currently almost 3,000 additional students from Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania and Guatemala are in the process of participating in clincal trials in their respective countries.

The average age of the students where programme was already implemented was 13.3 years (47% to 50% of the sample- depending on the country- were girls). The programme showed a significant effect on current use of substances (alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana) as well as intention to use substances (alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana) in the next 3 months among ever users. 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 on impact recorded while presenting results on refusal skills, perception of harm and normative belief associated to their use among peers associated with the aforementioned three substances. The challenges and lessons learned during operations as well as gender differences in responses will also be presented. 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.