Preventing substance misuse: Randomised Controlled Trial of the Strengthening Families 10-14 Programme

A UK trial is testing whether a family skills programme can keep teenagers away from alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. The problem is clear: substance misuse in young people harms their health, fuels anti-social behaviour, and increases school dropout rates. Many of the factors that protect against this—or put young people at risk—sit within the family. The Strengthening Families 10-14 UK programme targets those factors directly, aiming to improve parenting, family communication, and young people’s resilience. But no one yet knows whether the programme, originally developed in the US, actually works in a UK context. If the trial shows the programme delays or reduces substance use, the impact could be significant. Schools, local authorities, and public health teams would have a tested, structured way to strengthen families before problems start. That could mean fewer young people entering treatment, less strain on the NHS, and lower rates of crime and school dropout. The study is also collecting practical information on how to roll the programme out more widely if it succeeds—so the findings could directly shape how prevention is delivered across the UK.