The Integrated Programme: an evaluation of a multicomponent drugs prevention programme in northern England (1996-1999)

Abstract

Based on North American evidence that multi-component drugs prevention programmes have an impact on reducing young people's drug taking, the Integrated Programme (IP) was designed and delivered to adolescents in northern England during 1998-1999. The IP was evaluated by comparing the attitudes and drug-taking behaviour of nearly 2000 young people before and after programme delivery. Action sites (which received the IP) and comparison sites (which did not) were randomly allocated once baseline survey measurements had been taken. Controlling for key variables multiple logistic regression was used to measure the odds ratio of drug taking on 20 measures for young people in both action and comparison sites based on a follow-up survey. The results suggested that young people who received the IP were more likely to reduce harder drug use and maintain a softer drug-taking repertoire than those in the comparison sites. However, these 'gains' were small and inconsistent and the IP had no impact on reducing initiation/first trying rates. The results were thus only indicative that such programmes might be effective in the UK context.