Realist evaluation of drug education for 13-15 year olds in alternative education and deprived areas

BACKGROUND: Drug use often begins during adolescence when attitudes and behaviours are emerging. Universal drug education in schools is now mandatory. However, some young people are excluded from school and others living in deprived areas are more at risk of drug use. The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation (DSMF) drug education programme includes: teacher training, video of play, student workshops, parent/carer workshops and drug education lessons. Phases 1 and 2 of the research developed the programme and evaluated it for students aged 13-15 years in 12 schools in England. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: Phase 3 aims to address issues of inclusion and diversity by evaluating the DSMF programme for students aged 13-15 more likely to be at risk of drug use/harms. The objectives are to: • deliver the programme in pupil referral units (PRUs) and schools with catchments with high levels of deprivation in Scotland. • test transferability and cultural relevance of the programme for young people more ‘at risk’ of drug use. • examine factors that facilitate/hinder programme implementation in different education settings and area contexts and for different target groups. • assess effectiveness to influence student knowledge, attitudes and skill acquisition. • assess programme costs and benefits. • recommend a model for programme content and delivery for national roll out. METHODS: The research adopts a realist evaluation approach. Phase 3 will: a) test the programme in 6 Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), b) test student outcomes by delivering the programme in 6 ‘mainstream’ schools and 6 comparator schools in Scotland, based in the same areas and having a catchment area of higher than average deprivation. A mixed methods design will be employed, and a realist-based health economics cost/consequences analysis will be undertaken. The research stages comprise: 1. PPI input, adaptations & training (Mar-May 26) to test research tools and approaches and amend as necessary. Train research and delivery teams on working with young people in PRUs. 2. Pre-intervention data collection/analysis (May-Sep 26) (surveys with students and parents/carers, interviews with teachers). 3. Programme delivery & collection of process data (Sep-Dec 26). 4. Post-intervention data collection/analysis (Dec 26-Feb 27) (surveys with students and parents/carers and focus groups with students and teachers). 5. Economic evaluation will run from (May 27-Feb 27) The project will set up a steering/advisory group, 3 Youth Insights Groups, 1 Knowledge Exchange Network for PRUs and 2 Community Stakeholder Networks in Scotland. KNOWLEDGE MOBILISATION, DISSEMINATION & IMPACT: Findings will be co-produced and communicated to a range of different stakeholders using a variety of accessible written and visual methods. The anticipated impact will be increased confidence, knowledge about and support for drug use and keeping safe (students); increased role legitimacy, adequacy and security to sustain programme and deliver more widely (teachers); improved engagement in drug education and increased skills/knowledge (parents); shared understanding of importance of local collaboration as part of a holistic model of intervention (local stakeholders); increased knowledge/understanding of application and adaptation of drug education in pupil referral units; and wider knowledge and understandings of the role and potential of drug education in a prevention system (policy makers).