Preventing new substance use behaviors in youth: evaluation of a two-year comprehensive program

Oulmann Zerhouni; Sandra Loisy; Renaud Bouthier; Valentin Flaudias

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1339751

Preventing new substance use behaviors in youth: evaluation of a two-year comprehensive program

Front Psychol. 2024 Jul 5:15:1339751. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1339751. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Oulmann Zerhouni^{1

2}, Sandra Loisy³, Renaud Bouthier³, Valentin Flaudias^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale, Département de Psychologie, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France.
² Centre de Recherche sur les Fonctionnements et Dysfonctionnements Psychologiques (CRFDP, EA 7475), University of Rouen Normandy, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.
³ Association Avenir Santé, Lyon, France.
⁴ Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL UR 4638), Nantes Université, Nantes, France.
⁵ Pôle Psychiatrie B, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Abstract

Introduction: The Avenir Santé Association implemented a comprehensive prevention program targeting the consumption of the emerging psychoactive substances ecstasy (MDMA), cannabidiol (CBD), and nitrous oxide (N₂O).

Methods: The program was evaluated through four actions: (i) training for association workers (n = 84) (ii) on-site student party interventions (n = 248), (iii) social network-based prevention (n = 186), and (iv) provision of prevention tools for party organizers (n = 148).

Results: Results showed a significant increase in understanding of emerging substances among association workers, with a pre-training score of M = 15.76 (SD = 3.65) and a post-training score of M = 18.29 (SD = 2.50). Increased awareness and reflective attitudes toward substance use were observed among young people participating in field actions, with pre- and post-intervention scores for MDMA use intentions being M = 15.89 (SD = 4.60) and M = 19.17 (SD = 3.33), respectively. Similarly, awareness of CBD effects increased from M = 14.18 (SD = 4.14) to M = 17.60 (SD = 3.31). Exposure to Instagram posts on N₂O led to more negative attitudes toward N₂O among young people, with a significant change in scores from M = 8.16 (SD = 1.57) to M = 8.42 (SD = 1.26). However, exposure to a website providing information about emerging substances did not produce any significant effect.

Discussion: In conclusion, this initiative underscores the usefulness of facilitator training, field interventions, and certain online information strategies for substance judgment and usage intentions. Future prevention programs can advantageously incorporate these actions.

Keywords: cannabidiol; ecstasy; field interventions; nitrous oxide; prevention.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The project was funded for the implementation of the protocol and/or its evaluation by the “Fonds de Lutte contre les Addictions.”