Effects of a community-based substance use prevention program in Iranian adolescents (SUPPIA)-using social cognitive theory

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to develop and assess a tailored community-based intervention protocol for preventing substance use based on social cognitive theory in adolescents. Methods: A tailored community-based substance use prevention intervention was undertaken with 140 boys and girls (14-18- years old) participating in the study in Isfahan, Iran. The intervention group attended eight 45-minute theory-based sessions based on social cognitive theory from 2018 to 2020. Data were analyzed 6, 18, and 24 months later by the SPSS.23 software. Results: Social cognitive theory indicators, including positive outcome expectancies (p <.001, F = 25, ES = 0.34), negative outcomes expectancies (p <.001, F = 31.2, ES = 0.38), and self-efficacy (p <.001, F = 12.3, ES = 0.45) showed significant improvements at three stages (6, 18, and 24 months after intervention). The program also demonstrated significant but low effect size reductions in the incidence of cigarette (ES = 0.15), alcohol (ES = 0.05), and other drug use (ES = 0.01) in the intervention group among three follow-ups. Conclusion: The results support the effectiveness of the community-based intervention program based on social cognitive theory in reducing the incidence of substance use among Iranian adolescents. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.