Results of a Transtheoretical Model-Based Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Intervention in Middle Schools

BackgroundEarly use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs threatens the physical and mental well-being of students and continued use negatively affects many areas of development. An internet-based, tailored intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change was delivered to middle school students to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. This internet-based approach requires very little faculty and staff time, which is efficient given curricular demands.MethodsTwenty-two middle schools in the United States were matched and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control conditions (N = 1590 students who had ever used substances). Participants received one pre-test assessment, three thirty-minute intervention sessions over three months, and two post-test assessments (3 and 14 months after pre-test, respectively).ResultsRandom effects logistic models showed significant treatment effects for the intervention group when compared to the control group at the 3-month post-test.ConclusionsThis program has the potential to be applied as stand-alone practice or as part of more intensive interventions to promote substance use cessation.

► Use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs threaten the well being of young students. ► A tailored Transtheoretical Model-based intervention was delivered over the Internet. ► The trial was conducted with 1,590 students across 22 middle schools in the U.S. ► Significant effects were found for the intervention group at the first post-test. ► This program has the potential to accelerate cessation.