ALCOHOL MISUSE PREVENTION FOR YOUNG-PEOPLE - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REVEALS METHODOLOGICAL CONCERNS AND LACK OF RELIABLE EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS

In a systematic review we assessed the methodological quality of evalu ations of alcohol misuse prevention programmes for young people, and r ecorded evidence of effectiveness. Studies were identified through sys tematic searches of electronic databases; hand searches of all obtaine d papers, existing reviews and several journals; and mailshots to key organizations, conferences and individuals. Relevant papers were check ed and cross-checked by members of the review team, and only those stu dies with an experimental or quasi-experimental design and positive at tributes on a number of other quality criteria were included in the re view. After pre-screening over 500 papers which reported prevention pr ogrammes, information was systematically abstracted from 155 papers. O nly 33 studies merited inclusion in the review, and most of these had some methodological shortcomings. Twenty-one studies reported some sig nificant short- and medium-term reductions in drinking behaviour. Of t wo studies which carried out longer-term evaluations, only one reporte d a significant longer-term effect, with small effect sizes. No factor s clearly distinguished partially effective from ineffective or harmfu l prevention programmes. In conclusion, the lack of reliable evidence means that no one type of prevention programme can be recommended. In particular there is a need to carry out well-designed scientific evalu ations of the effectiveness of current or new prevention efforts which target young people's alcohol misuse.