CLIMATE Schools: The development and evaluation of interactive computer based prevention program for cannabis and psychostimulants
NDARC Staff
Laura Vogl, Nicola Newton, Maree Teesson, Aspasia Karageorge, Catherine Deans, Wendy Swift, Alys Havard, Paul Dillon, and Rebecca McKetin
Other Investigators
Gavin Andrews (University of NSW)
Aims
Design and Method
An interactive computer based prevention program for cannabis and psychostimulants was developed and evaluated in Year 10 students. The CLIMATE Schools: Psychostimulant and Cannabis Module was developed in collaboration with students, teachers and experts in the areas of alcohol, cannabis and psychostimulants.
A cluster randomized controlled trial is currently underway. This RCT involves 21 schools across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The aim of this trial is to assess the impact of the CLIMATE intervention on students’ knowledge of cannabis and psychostimulants, attitudes towards their use, drug use behaviour (e.g., lifetime use, recent use and frequency of use) and intention to use cannabis and psychostimulant in the future. Final data will be collected in April / May 2009. The final results will be available in August 2009.
Funding
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, ARC, NHMRC and AERF