Developing the Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis Module: A Harm-Minimization, Universal Drug Prevention Program Facilitated by the Internet

Abstract

The Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis Module is a universal harm-minimization school-based prevention program for adolescents aged 13–15 years. The core content of the program is delivered over the Internet using cartoon storylines to engage students, and teacher-driven activities reinforce the core information. The program is embedded within the school health curriculum and is easy to implement with minimal teacher training required. The program was developed in 2007 through extensive collaboration with teachers, students, and health professionals (N = 24) in Sydney, Australia and has since been evaluated (N = 764). This article describes the formative research and process of planning that formed the development of the program and the evidence base underpinning the approach. The study's limitations are noted.

RESUMEN

El desarrollo de la Climático Escuelas: El alcohol y el módulo de cannabis: una reducción al mínimo del daño, el programa de prevención universal de medicamentos facilitados por la Internet.

El clima Escuelas: El alcohol y el cannabis es un módulo universal de minimización de daños programa de prevención escolar para adolescentes de 13–15 años. El contenido básico del programa es emitido a través de Internet utilizando historias de dibujos animados para involucrar a los estudiantes, y la actividades impulsadas por el profesor reforzar la información básica. El programa está integrado dentro del programa de salud escolar y es fácil de implementar con la formación del profesorado mínimo requerido. El programa fue desarrollado en 2007 a través de una amplia colaboración con los profesores, estudiantes y profesionales de la salud (N = 24) en Sydney, Australia y desde entonces ha sido evaluada (N = 764). Este artículo describe la investigación formativa y el proceso de planificación que se formó el desarrollo del programa y la base de pruebas que sustentan el enfoque.

RÉSUMÉ

Développer les écoles Climat: L'alcool et le module de cannabis: Une réduction des méfaits, programme universel de prévention des drogues facilitée par l'Internet

Les écoles Climat: L'alcool et le module de cannabis est un système universel de réduction des préjudices programme scolaire de prévention pour les adolescents âgés de 13–15 ans. Le contenu de base du programme est livré sur Internet en utilisant storylines bande dessinée d'engager les élèves, l'enseignant et les activités axées renforcer l'information de base. Le programme est intégré dans le programme de santé scolaire et est facile à mettre en œuvre la formation des enseignants minimale requise. Le programme a été élaboré en 2007 grâce à une collaboration approfondie avec les enseignants, les étudiants et les professionnels de la santé (N = 24) à Sydney, en Australie et a depuis été évalués (N = 764). Cet article décrit la recherche formative et processus de planification qui ont formé l’élaboration du programme et la base de preuves qui sous-tend la démarche.

Keywords :

• school-based
• drug education
• prevention
• alcohol
• cannabis
• Internet
• adolescence

THE AUTHORS

Dr. Nicola Newton has been working since 2006 at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. In 2009, she completed her Ph.D. degree and was awarded a postdoctoral research fellowship. Her postdoctorate work involves combining effective universal and indicated approaches to drug prevention aiming to maximize prevention outcomes for both low- and high-risk students. This work is being carried out as a collaborative research project between NDARC and the Kings College London, where Nicola is currently based. Nicola's research focuses primarily on developing and evaluating innovative programs to minimize alcohol and drug use in adolescents. She was worked extensively on the CLIMATE Schools series for drug prevention which are universal Internet-based programs delivered in high school. She is currently adapting and piloting the CLIMATE Schools programs for use in the UK. Prior to embarking on her Ph.D., Nicola worked as a Research Officer at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression at St Vincent's Hospital. Her research interests include adolescent mental health, and Internet-based prevention and early intervention for substance use.

Dr. Laura Vogl is a Research Fellow at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales. In her work at NDARC, Laura has developed and evaluated a number of effective computerized school-based programs for the prevention of alcohol misuse, cannabis, and psychostimulant use. Laura has a particular interest in the differential effectiveness of prevention programs for males and females. She is also particularly interested on the impact of parental supply on the progression of adolescent alcohol use, and is a Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Council Discovery grant investigating this issue. Laura is a Chief Investigator on a project examining the differential gender effects on the uptake of ecstasy use in adolescents and adulthood. Laura has extensive experience as a Clinical Psychologist in the area of general adolescent and adult mental health. Her research interests include the prevention of mental health problems and adolescent mental health issues.

Prof. Maree Teesson graduated with a Ph.D. degree from the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales in 1996 under Prof. Gavin Andrews. She was the Director of Research in the innovative Inner City Mental Health Services, Sydney before taking the role of Lecturer at NDARC in 1997. She was Deputy Director of the Centre from 2002 to 2008. NDARC has over 100 academic, research, and administrative staff and an international reputation for drug and alcohol research. In 2008, she was awarded a prestigious NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship. During the past 11 years, she has made a major contribution to Australia's health and medical research effort in the field of mental health and drug and alcohol. In particular, she is known nationally and internationally for her research on the comorbidity between mental disorders and drug and alcohol disorders. She has also been a key contributor in developing new approaches to the measurement and treatment of drug and alcohol problems and the evaluation of health service delivery. She has a strong track record of winning competitive scientific grant funding and has published more than 150 papers, reports, and books. In addition to her position as Acting Director of NDARC, she holds an honorary appointment with the Health Services Research Group, Institute of Psychiatry, London. She maintains a strong link with treatment services and is a founding member (since 1990) of the Mental Health Services Conference, Inc, the largest mental health services conference in Australia.

Professor Gavin Andrews is Director of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression at St Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales. During his career, he has made significant contribution to the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in Australia. He was the pioneer for computer-based mental health treatment and prevention in Australia, proving the success of such approaches in over 10 large clinical trials (see www.crufad.org).

Notes

1 At the time of developing this program, “The Australian Alcohol Guidelines” were under review. New guidelines have recently been released by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (March 6, 2009).