An elementary school-based alcohol misuse prevention program: a follow-up evaluation

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Substance Abuse Prevention

Background:

• Adolescent alcohol misuse is a significant public health concern.
• Effective prevention strategies are crucial for mitigating risks associated with early alcohol consumption.
• The Alcohol Misuse Prevention Study (AMPS) curriculum was designed to address these issues in preadolescent students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the AMPS curriculum in preventing alcohol misuse among fifth and sixth graders.
• To assess the impact of the curriculum on factors like susceptibility to peer pressure, health locus of control, and knowledge of alcohol risks.
• To determine if the curriculum leads to reduced alcohol use and misuse in the target population.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving over 5,000 fifth and sixth-grade students.
• Schools were assigned to receive the AMPS curriculum, curriculum plus a booster, or serve as controls.
• Data collected included pre- and post-testing on alcohol use, misuse, peer pressure susceptibility, and health locus of control over 26 months.

Main Results:

• No significant overall treatment effect on alcohol use or misuse was observed across all participants.
• Significant treatment by occasion interactions were found for internal health locus of control (sixth grade) and curriculum knowledge in both grades.
• Subgroup analysis revealed significant program effects on reducing alcohol misuse among sixth graders with prior supervised and unsupervised drinking experience.

Conclusions:

• The AMPS curriculum did not demonstrate an overall impact on alcohol misuse prevention in the general student population.
• Targeted interventions may be more effective, as evidenced by the positive effects on sixth graders with previous exposure to alcohol.
• Further research is needed to refine prevention strategies for diverse adolescent populations and drinking experiences.