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

The takeaway

A 12-session school-based program reduced cigarette smoking, drunkenness, and cannabis use across 7 European countries, with effects persisting at 15 months for alcohol and cannabis.

Read this if you want to know which school drug prevention programs work across different countries.

Cannabis use reduction persisted at 15 months across 7 European countries

What the researchers found

The "Unplugged" program was evaluated in a randomized trial involving 7,079 students across seven European countries. The 12-session interactive curriculum, taught by teachers, was effective in reducing cigarette smoking, episodes of drunkenness, and cannabis use in the short term.

However, the short-term effects were largely confined to boys, with age and self-esteem as possible explanations for the gender difference. At 15-month follow-up, beneficial effects persisted for drunkenness, alcohol-related problems, and cannabis use.

Effects were stronger among students in schools with average low socioeconomic status, suggesting the program may be most beneficial for higher-risk populations.

Why it matters

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.

The numbers in context

7,079 students across 7 European countries. 12 one-hour sessions. Short-term effects on smoking, drunkenness, and cannabis (boys only). 15-month effects on drunkenness, alcohol problems, and cannabis. Stronger effects in lower-SES schools.

How the study worked

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.

What this study cannot tell us

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.

How to read the evidence

This is a large multinational RCT with follow-up, providing strong evidence for effectiveness, particularly given cross-cultural replication.

When this study was published

Published in 2014. "Unplugged" remains on multiple evidence-based program registries across Europe.

The bigger picture

"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.

Questions still open

Why does the program work better for boys in the short term? Would adapting the program for girls improve its effectiveness? Do effects persist beyond 15 months?

Common questions

What is the social influence approach?

It focuses on correcting overestimates of peer substance use (normative beliefs), building personal and social skills to resist pressure, and providing accurate knowledge. Rather than fear-based messaging, it empowers students to navigate social situations involving substances.

Why were effects stronger in lower-SES schools?

Students in lower socioeconomic settings may have more risk factors and fewer protective factors, leaving more room for a prevention program to make a difference. Programs may provide skills and information that higher-SES students already receive from other sources.

Read the original research

"Unplugged," a European school-based program for substance use prevention among adolescents: overview of results from the EU-Dap trial.

New directions for youth development, 2014(141), 67-82, 11-2

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Vigna-Taglianti, Federica D; Galanti, Maria Rosaria; Burkhart, Gregor; Caria, Maria Paola; Vadrucci, Serena; Faggiano, Fabrizio. (2014). "Unplugged," a European school-based program for substance use prevention among adolescents: overview of results from the EU-Dap trial.. New directions for youth development, 2014(141), 67-82, 11-2. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.20087