Acceptability and feasibility of Strong &amp; Deadly Futures, a culturally-inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander secondary students

K. Routledge; M. Snijder; N. Newton; J. Ward; M. Doyle; C. Chapman; K.E. Champion; B. Lees; S. Garlick Bock; Y. Wang; P.W. Olthuis; K.S.K. Lee; M. Teesson; L. Stapinski

SSM - Mental Health (Dec 2022)

Acceptability and feasibility of Strong & Deadly Futures, a culturally-inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander secondary students

K. Routledge,
M. Snijder,
N. Newton,
J. Ward,
M. Doyle,
C. Chapman,
K.E. Champion,
B. Lees,
S. Garlick Bock,
Y. Wang,
P.W. Olthuis,
K.S.K. Lee,
M. Teesson,
L. Stapinski

Affiliations

K. Routledge: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Corresponding author. The Matilda Centre, The University of Sydney, Jane Foss Russell Building, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia.
M. Snijder: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
N. Newton: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
J. Ward: UQ Poche Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, University of Queensland, Australia
M. Doyle: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Alcohol, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Australia; The Edith Collins Centre (Translational Research in Alcohol Drugs and Toxicology), Sydney Local Health District, Australia
C. Chapman: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
K.E. Champion: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
B. Lees: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
S. Garlick Bock: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
Y. Wang: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
P.W. Olthuis: Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands
K.S.K. Lee: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Alcohol, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Australia; The Edith Collins Centre (Translational Research in Alcohol Drugs and Toxicology), Sydney Local Health District, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
M. Teesson: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
L. Stapinski: The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2
p. 100073

Abstract

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Although there are effective alcohol and drug prevention programs available for Australian secondary schools, no effective culturally-inclusive programs exist for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. To address this gap, we developed the Strong & Deadly Futures program for young people aged 12–14 years. The web-based program was developed with Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous staff and students at four secondary schools (2 urban, 2 rural). This mixed-methods study reports on qualitative and quantitative feedback from students (n = 235) and school staff (n = 8) in a pilot trial to assess acceptability and feasibility of this curriculum-aligned program. Feedback indicated that students were highly engaged and motivated to learn as a result of the story-based mode of delivery, and teachers reported the ease of program implementation and adaptation. Implications for future school-based health program development are discussed. Overall, Strong & Deadly Futures appears to be an acceptable and feasible culturally-inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program. Further research will test the program's efficacy in a randomised controlled trial.

Published in SSM - Mental Health

ISSN: 2666-5603 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Other systems of medicine: Mental healing; Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ssm-mental-health

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