SHAHRP School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project

1. SHAHRPSchool Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project Maura Kearney and Kate Watson September 2012 Glasgow Psychological Service & Inverclyde Educational Psychology Service

2. Purpose of the presentation • Provide overview of the intervention • Give information on its effectiveness in Northern Ireland study and the implications for Scotland’s implementation • Working with other authorities in the future

3. Problematic Drinking • Associated with: • School truancy • School exclusion • Unsafe sexual behaviour • Accident/injury • Aggressive behaviour • Peer difficulties • Fatal injuries • Addiction in later life

4. Object of the Research Project • Is a school based input effective in reducing hazardous drinking? • Will the harm that is associated with alcohol use in young people reduce when they have received this input? • Will a parenting component of the project support the reduction in hazardous drinking amongst young people?

5. What/who is involved in the intervention? • Guidance staff are trained to deliver a 12 part PSE programme over two years (starting in S2) • Parents are offered separate training and development evening sessions run by workers trained to deliver the parent programme

6. Assessment of Possible Benefits • Assessing alcohol cognitions • Measuring alcohol consumption • Measuring of alcohol related behaviour • Standardised and validated measures will be used

7. Scotland & Northern Ireland • Ireland & Scotland were historically different (Loretto, 1994) in relation to alcohol • Now similar prevalence of alcohol intake • Now similar lifetime drunkenness Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2009

8. Results of Northern Irish Project • Problematic drinking is predicted by: • Having higher social self-efficacy • Lower academic self-efficacy • Better peer communication • Less trust of parents • Less strict parental rules on alcohol

9. Results of Northern Irish Project • Reduction in harm to self when drinking • Reduction in harm to others • Less units of alcohol taken • Knowledge about alcohol increased • Attitudes towards alcohol were more informed • Effects last up to 18 months post intervention

14. Northern Irish Project • 2349 participants • 13.8 years – mean age of participant • Culturally adapted • Project was analysed by the University of Liverpool

15. What the intervention covers • Myths & general information • Making choices/Alcohol & the body • Units & matching use to consequences • Alcohol & other drugs • Alcohol & the media/How reduce harm? • Real scenarios & debates

16. What the project entails? • All schools will have pre & post measures • Experimental schools will have staff trained in the materials • Parents will be offered parenting classes • Implementation will take 2 years – S2 & S3

17. British Medical Journal • “Much more money should be spent in attempting to replicate and develop endeavours that have produced positive outcomes such as the … school health and alcohol harm reduction programme (SHAHRP), a harm minimisation programme for school students”. BMJ 2004

18. Glasgow & Inverclyde • 33 secondary schools involved across the 2 authorities • 50% control 50% experimental • All pupils in S2 have undergone attitudinal assessments • Intervention begins in August 2012

19. Glasgow & Inverclyde • Utilising scarce resources effectively • Strategic focus • Evidence based approach to supporting young people • Applying universal principles and contributing to action research

20. Any questions? .