European School Program "Unplugged" Reduced Cannabis, Smoking, and Drunkenness in 7,000 Students

This was a randomized controlled trial involving 7,079 students from seven European countries. Schools were randomized to receive either the "Unplugged" program (12 one-hour interactive sessions) or usual education. Follow-up assessments were conducted at short-term and 15-month intervals.

Cross-national effectiveness is a high bar for prevention programs. That "Unplugged" showed effects across seven European countries with different cultures and drug policies strengthens confidence in its generalizability. The persistent effects on cannabis use at 15 months are particularly notable.

"Unplugged" demonstrates that a social influence-based curriculum can reduce substance use across diverse European contexts. The finding that effects persist longer for alcohol and cannabis than for cigarettes may reflect differences in how these substances respond to norm-correction and skills-based interventions.

The gender specificity of short-term effects is concerning and not fully explained. The program was teacher-delivered, introducing variability in implementation quality. Different European countries may have had varying levels of program fidelity. The 15-month follow-up may not capture longer-term outcomes.