Effectiveness of an education program on attitudes of high-school students on drug abuse: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Teeli, Ramadhan Hameed

doi:10.64554/njphn.2026.173045.1017

Effectiveness of an education program on attitudes of high-school students on drug abuse: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Ramadhan Hameed Teeli

Directory of Health, Prevention Department, Duhok City

10.64554/njphn.2026.173045.1017

Abstract

Background: Drug abuse remains a major public health concern, exacerbated by the increasing availability of substances and adolescents’ reliance on informal sources of information. Although school-based education is recognized as a key preventive strategy, evidence regarding patterns of drug abuse and the effectiveness of educational interventions in the Kurdistan Region remains limited.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled pre-test–post-test trial was conducted in ten randomly selected high schools. Schools were allocated to an education and control groups. Using multistage cluster sampling, 450 students aged 16–20 years were recruited. The education group received an educational intervention. Data were analyzed using chi-square, independent t-test, McNemar, and regression analyses (p < 0.05).

Results: Baseline characteristics and attitudes were comparable between groups. Social media was the primary information source. At three-month follow-up, the education group showed significantly higher knowledge across all domains, including recognition of substances, effects, risks, and intention to avoid drug use (p < 0.0001). Socio-demographic factors were not significant predictors of knowledge.

Conclusion: Structured school-based education significantly and sustainably improved adolescents’ drug-abuse knowledge. Integrating such programs into high school curricula may strengthen prevention efforts.

Keywords

Keywords: Drug Abuse

Addiction

Adolescent

Students

Educational Program