Preventing alcohol use among adolescents: assessment of the "alcohol-free" programme

Abstract

Alcohol use among adolescents is associated with serious health problems and with increased mortality. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the "Alcohol-free" programme in the prevention of alcohol consumption among adolescents. A quasi-experimental study was conducted including an experimental group of 92 students and a control group of 77 students, who attended the 3rd cycle of basic education at Braga and Porto schools (Portugal). A self-report questionnaire was administered to both groups before and after the programme implementation. The programme was only administered to the experimental group. Results. The “Alcohol-Free” programme was not effective in preventing alcohol consumption among adolescents, as no significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group regarding the prevalence of alcohol use, the prevalence of drunkeness, early alcohol experimentation, and intention to consume alcohol in the future. Conclusions. School-based prevention programmes should be improved in the future, and should also include families, peers and the school community.