The Effectiveness of Universal Educational Interventions for Prevention of Illicit Drug Use among University Students: A Systematic Review

Kamyar Ghani; Jaleh Gholami; Ghazal Mousavian; Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili; Hassan Rafiey; Nasim Vousooghi; Behrang Shadloo; Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i1.14682

The Effectiveness of Universal Educational Interventions for Prevention of Illicit Drug Use among University Students: A Systematic Review

Iran J Public Health. 2024 Jan;53(1):48-58. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v53i1.14682.

Authors

Kamyar Ghani¹, Jaleh Gholami², Ghazal Mousavian^{2

3}, Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili^{2

4}, Hassan Rafiey⁵, Nasim Vousooghi^{2

6

7}, Behrang Shadloo², Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance (HIVHUB), Kerman, Iran.
⁴ Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁵ Social Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Background: The extent of illicit drug use among university students necessitates effective preventive programs. To identify and assess the effectiveness of university-based interventions in preventing or reducing illicit drug use.

Methods: The MEDLINE (PubMed), SCOPUS, ISI (Web of Science), and other sources were searched according to the Cochrane Collaboration method. RCTs, CRTs and non- RCTs evaluating university-based interventions designed to prevent illicit drug use were reviewed. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The quality of the publications was assessed. Interventions were classified by type, provider, duration, and theoretical background.

Results: Of 6652 papers, 11 studies met the eligibility criteria that were conducted between 1987 and 2020. The effectiveness of interventions was different. Substantial heterogeneity among the studies prevented the integration of results for estimating summaries.

Conclusion: Despite the importance of the subject, there is a paucity of studies about specific educational programs for illicit drug use, indicating the necessity of further research in other countries.

Keywords: Effectiveness; Illicit drug use; Prevention; Systematic review; University-based programs.

Publication types

Review