Effect of a selective personality-targeted prevention program on 7-year illicit substance related outcomes: A secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

Katrina E Champion; Jennifer Debenham; Maree Teesson; Lexine A Stapinski; Emma Devine; Emma L Barrett; Tim Slade; Erin V Kelly; Cath Chapman; Anna Smout; Siobhan Lawler; Natalie Castellanos-Ryan; Patricia J Conrod; Nicola C Newton

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111266

Effect of a selective personality-targeted prevention program on 7-year illicit substance related outcomes: A secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2024 Mar 15:258:111266. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111266. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: katrina.champion@sydney.edu.au.
² The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: jennifer.debenham@sydney.edu.au.
³ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: maree.teesson@sydney.edu.au.
⁴ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: lexine.stapinski@sydney.edu.au.
⁵ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: emma.devine@sydney.edu.au.
⁶ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: emma.barrett@sydney.edu.au.
⁷ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: tim.slade@sydney.edu.au.
⁸ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: erin.k@sydney.edu.au.
⁹ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: cath.chapman@sydney.edu.au.
¹⁰ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: anna.smout@monash.edu.au.
¹¹ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: siobhan.lawler@aic.gov.au.
¹² University of Montreal, P.O. Box 6128, Centre-ville Station, Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: natalie.castellanos.ryan@umontreal.ca.
¹³ University of Montreal, P.O. Box 6128, Centre-ville Station, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, 3175, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: patricia.conrod@umontreal.ca.
¹⁴ The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: nicola.newton@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 38552600
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111266

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the efficacy of the selective personality-targeted PreVenture program in reducing cannabis and stimulant use over a 7-year period spanning adolescence and early adulthood.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 14 Australian schools. Schools were randomized to PreVenture, a brief personality-targeted selective intervention, comprising two 90-minute facilitator-led sessions delivered one week apart, or a control group (health education as usual). Only students who scored highly on one of four personality traits (anxiety sensitivity, negative thinking, impulsivity, sensation seeking) were included. Students completed online self-report questionnaires between 2012 and 2019: at baseline; post-intervention; 1-, 2-, 3-, 5.5- and 7-years post-baseline. Outcomes were past 6-months cannabis use, stimulant use (MDMA, methamphetamine or amphetamine) and cannabis-related harms.

Results: The sample comprised 438 adolescents (M_age=13.4 years; SD=0.47) at baseline. Retention ranged from 51% to 79% over the 7-years. Compared to controls, the PreVenture group had significantly reduced odds of annual cannabis-related harms (OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.65-0.92). However, there were no significant group differences in the growth of cannabis use (OR=0.84, 95% CI=0.69-1.02) or stimulant use (OR=1.07, 95% CI=0.91-1.25) over the 7-year period.

Conclusions: PreVenture was effective in slowing the growth of cannabis-related harms over time, however owing to missing data over the 7-year trial, replication trials may be warranted to better understand the impact of the PreVenture intervention on cannabis and stimulant use among young Australians. Alternative implementation strategies, such as delivering the intervention in later adolescence and/or providing booster sessions, may be beneficial.

Keywords: Cannabis; Drug use; Personality; Prevention; Selective; Stimulants.