Effectiveness of educational interventions in United States schools to prevent opioid-related harms: A systematic review

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108268

Christina Hua-Nguyen , Ashley Harris , Micah E. Herrera , Jamison Falk , Me-Linh Le , Shweta Mital

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Issues

The opioid crisis in North America has increased concerns about adolescent problematic opioid use. Schools are crucial in prevention efforts, but the effectiveness of school-based educational programs is debated. This review evaluates the effectiveness of school-based opioid education programs in preventing opioid-related harms, and improving knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about opioids among youth.

Approach

Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycInfo, ERIC, and Web of Science databases were searched in January 2025. Included studies met the following criteria: (1) were published in English; (2) conducted in a middle or high school setting; (3) the intervention related to opioid education; (4) randomized trials or observational studies; and (5) published between January 2000 and January 2025.

Key Findings

Among 1405 studies screened, eight met the inclusion criteria and evaluated seven school-based opioid education programs with participants aged between 11 and 18 years. Most studies used quasi-experimental designs, and only one was a randomized controlled trial. One study showed that combining classroom-based interventions in grade 7 with sessions that involved parents participating alongside students significantly reduced prescription opioid misuse, with effects lasting until grade 12. Four studies showed improved knowledge and attitudes towards opioid use and two showed increased understanding of opioid withdrawal and overdose management.

Implications and Conclusion

This review is the first to evaluate school-based opioid education programs for adolescents. Findings indicate that these programs effectively increase opioid knowledge and reduce problematic opioid use, though further randomized trials among diverse participant samples are needed to confirm efficacy and generalizability of findings.

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.