Researchers examined the impact of three interrelated brief universal preventive interventions conducted in middle schools on long-term prescription drug misuse. The three randomized controlled trials evaluated
- the Iowa Strengthening Families Program (ISFP);
- the revised ISFP called Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14, plus school-based Life Skills Training (SFP 10-14 + LST); and
- the SFP 10-14, plus school-based LST or Project ALERT or All-Stars.
Outcomes were based on self-reported prescription opioid misuse (POM) and lifetime prescription drug misuse overall (PDMO). Relative reduction rates measured the program's impact on POM and PDMO within the intervention group, relative to a control group. The analysis further examined the impact on higher-risk students (those who had already initiated alcohol, cigarette, or drug use at baseline) versus the impact on lower-risk subgroups. In Study 1, ISFP reduced POM and PDMO by 65 percent at age 25 compared with the control group. In Study 2, SFP 10-14 + LST showed significant or marginally significant reductions among the intervention group of 30 percent in POM and 60 percent in PDMO at age 25. In Study 3 (a more recent cohort), high school seniors showed a 20 percent to 21 percent reduction in POM and PDMO. All three studies found similar reductions for high- and low-risk subgroups. The authors concluded that brief universal interventions have the potential to affect public health by reducing prescription drug misuse among adolescents and young adults.