# Impact of a Hybrid Prevention Program for High School Students on Prescription Drug Misuse Outcomes

## TL;DR

A hybrid prevention program combining e-learning and classroom activities reduced prescription drug misuse among high school students.

## Contribution

The study introduces a hybrid prevention program combining e-learning and classroom activities to reduce prescription drug misuse among high school students.

## Key findings

- Students in the hybrid prevention program had lower sedative misuse compared to the control group.
- The program increased perceived risks of using prescription drugs among students.

## Abstract

Prescription drug misuse among youth is a significant public health problem that can lead to negative consequences, including addiction and overdose deaths. This study examined the effectiveness of an evidence-based hybrid approach in preventing prescription drug misuse outcomes in high school students. The prevention program used a combination of e-learning modules and classroom activities to enhance social and personal competence skills and refusal skills to deter prescription drug misuse and other types of substance misuse. Findings indicated that prescription sedative misuse was lower among students who received the hybrid prevention program compared to students in the control group. Perceived risk of using prescription sedatives, painkillers, and stimulants prescribed for someone else was higher in the intervention group relative to the control group students. These findings indicate that a comprehensive, universal school-based hybrid prevention program can produce positive impacts on sedative use and perceived risks of prescription drug misuse.