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  • Cristina Núñez-Vásquez Universidad UTE
Keywords: prevention programs, drug policy, school.

Abstract

Introduction: Drug use among school-aged youth is a global public health challenge, affecting individual health, academic performance, and overall social development. Schools are key environments for prevention, as they provide a platform to reach children and adolescents. This rapid review synthesizes the evidence on the effectiveness of school-based educational drug prevention programs, with the aim of strengthening preventive strategies in this context. Methodology: A rapid review of the published literature was conducted using Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Systematic reviews, with or without meta-analyses, published up to 2025 were included, provided they reported outcomes of educational programs aimed at preventing drug use. Results: Five systematic reviews and seven systematic reviews with meta-analyses were identified. The findings suggest that these programs have positive effects, mainly in improving knowledge and attitudes toward drugs. However, the impact on reducing actual drug use is consistently not significant. Conclusions: Interactive approaches and those focused on developing social skills were found to be more effective, especially when implemented during early adolescence. The evidence remains heterogeneous, and the direct impact of these programs on reducing substance use continues to be limited.

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Published
2025-08-01
How to Cite
1.
Núñez-Vásquez C. Español. PFR [Internet]. 2025Aug.1 [cited 2025Aug.2];10(2). Available from: https://practicafamiliarrural.org/index.php/pfr/article/view/372