Australian Online Drug Prevention Program Was Well-Received by UK Teachers and Students | Research

The takeaway

A pilot test of the Climate Schools online prevention program in UK secondary schools found high acceptability among both teachers and students.

Read this if you want to know about implementing evidence-based prevention programs across different countries.

85% of UK students found the Australian-developed program easy to understand

What the researchers found

The Climate Schools program, originally developed and validated in Australia, was piloted in two UK secondary schools with Year 9 students (approximately 13-14 years old). Evaluations from both students and teachers were overwhelmingly positive.

Among students, 85% said the information on alcohol and cannabis was easy to understand, 84% said it was easy to learn, and 80% found the online cartoon format enjoyable. Among teachers, 100% said students could recall the information taught, 82% said the computer component was easy to implement, 100% said the teacher's manual was easy to use, and 82% said they would use the program again and recommend it to others.

The study focused on feasibility and acceptability rather than effectiveness outcomes, establishing whether the Australian-developed program could work in a UK context before conducting a full evaluation trial.

Why it matters

Evidence-based prevention programs developed in one country often fail when implemented in different cultural contexts. This pilot demonstrated that the Climate Schools program was acceptable and implementable in UK schools, an essential step before committing resources to a full effectiveness trial.

The numbers in context

11 teachers and 222 students from 2 schools. Student evaluations: 85% found content easy to understand, 84% easy to learn, 80% enjoyed the format. Teacher evaluations: 100% said students recalled information, 82% found it easy to implement, 82% would use it again.

How the study worked

This was a feasibility pilot study involving 11 teachers and 222 students from two secondary schools in southeast London. Teachers implemented the Climate Schools program (two modules of six lessons each, delivered approximately 6 months apart) over the school year. Post-program evaluations were collected from both students and teachers.

What this study cannot tell us

This was a feasibility study with no control group and no measurement of actual substance use outcomes. Only two schools in southeast London participated, limiting generalizability. Evaluations may be subject to social desirability bias. The study did not assess whether the program would be effective in reducing substance use in a UK population.

How to read the evidence

This is a feasibility pilot study without a control group or outcome measures. It provides evidence of acceptability only, not effectiveness.

When this study was published

Published in 2014. Full effectiveness trials of Climate Schools in UK settings have been conducted since.

The bigger picture

Exporting evidence-based programs across countries requires careful adaptation and feasibility testing. The high acceptability ratings suggest that the core elements of the Climate Schools program translate well to the UK context, supporting further evaluation and potential wider implementation.

Questions still open

Does the program reduce alcohol and cannabis use among UK adolescents as effectively as it does in Australia? Are there cultural adaptations that would improve its relevance for UK students? How does implementation quality vary across different UK school settings?

Common questions

What is a feasibility pilot study?

A feasibility study tests whether a program can be practically implemented in a new setting before investing in a full evaluation trial. It assesses acceptability, ease of implementation, and potential barriers rather than measuring outcomes.

Why not just implement the program based on Australian evidence?

Programs that work in one cultural context may not work in another due to differences in school systems, student demographics, drug culture, and regulatory environments. Feasibility testing ensures the program works logistically and is accepted before measuring effectiveness.

Read the original research

A pilot study of an online universal school-based intervention to prevent alcohol and cannabis use in the UK.

BMJ open, 4(5), e004750

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Newton, Nicola C; Conrod, Patricia J; Rodriguez, Daniel M; Teesson, Maree. (2014). A pilot study of an online universal school-based intervention to prevent alcohol and cannabis use in the UK.. BMJ open, 4(5), e004750. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004750