Reduction of alcohol use by young adolescents: a randomized trial with four conditions

INTERVENTION: The objective of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of two interventions for reducing alcohol use by young adolescents: the renewed alcohol module, developed within the scope of the healthy school and drugs program, based on elements proven effective in the past in previous modules, and a new parent intervention that focuses primarily on influencing the way parents raise their children with respect to alcohol consumption. The renewed alcohol module consists of four lessons. The parent intervention is introduced during a parent evening at the school. Both interventions will be held in the first year of secondary education. Schools will be randomly assigned to one of the following four conditions: 1. Regular curriculum 2. Renewed healthy school and drugs alcohol module 3. Parent intervention (PI) 4. Combination of 2 and 3 above CONDITION: Alcohol abuse or addiction ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Alcohol abuse PRIMARY OUTCOME: Over a course of three years, the effectiveness of two interventions for reducing alcohol use by adolescents under the age of 16 is assessed. In particular, we examine the effectiveness of each of the interventions offered separately and simultaneously. ; The interventions are targeted at the reduction of alcohol consumption among young adolescents. These objectives will be concretized with the following attainment targets: ; 1. Reduce the percentage of binge drinking (>5 drinks) by at least 10% ; 2. Reduce the weekly number of drinks from 10 to 6 drinks ; 3. Reduce the percentage of adolescents who drink on a weekly basis by 10%; ; The parent intervention will take place in October 2006, booster sessions at the beginning of each successive school year in 2007 and 2008.; The alcohol module will be run from March to April of the first grade in secondary education in all participating schools in 2007. ; Measurements will take place before the first intervention, T0 August to September 2006, and at the beginning of each successive school year; T1 October to November 2007, T2 October to November 2008, T3 October to November 2009.; Students will answer a digital questionnaire in their classroom. Parents will be sent a questionnaire by post. SECONDARY OUTCOME: We will examine whether the effectiveness of the intervention is dependent upon the particular child, parent or school characteristics (moderator‐effects) and whether the effectiveness is mediated by a particular child, parent or school characteristics. In addition, it will be analysed whether the interventions have a simultaneous effect on the reduction of externalising problem behaviour. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adolescents in the first grade of secondary school