Reduction of alcohol use by young adolescents: a randomized trial with four conditions.

Alcohol use by young adolescents (under 16 years old) is very high in the Netherlands. Recent figures show that this is continuing to increase in the youngest groups. The objective of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of two interventions for reducing alcohol use by young adolescents: the renewed alcohol module, developed within the scope of the Healthy School and Drugs (Gezonde School en Genotmiddelen) program, based on elements proven effective in the past in previous modules, and a new parent intervention that primarily focuses on influencing the way parents raise their children with respect to alcohol consumption. In particular, we intend to compare the effectiveness of interventions that focus on the children themselves and the school/peer context (Healthy School and Drugs program) with the effectiveness of interventions that focus on the childrens parents, and in addition what the effect is if these interventions are combined. Two major programs will be connected within this study. One is the (inter)national study entitled Health Behavior in School-aged Children. This survey of health and substance use by pupils is conducted every four years in a representative sample of pupils (aged 11 to16) in the Netherlands. This survey will be conducted in the Netherlands by the Trimbos Institute in the 2005-2006 school year in collaboration with several universities (Leiden, Nijmegen, Utrecht, Amsterdam). The survey will be a good basis for performing an RCT at several randomly selected schools. The other that will be used is the large-scale national program for prevention of (excessive) substance use by young people (tobacco, alcohol and drugs), the Healthy School and Drugs program, coordinated by the Trimbos Institute in conjunction with a great many local agencies (municipal health services, care organizations for addicts).