Middlesex academics awarded grant to reduce demand for drugs in young people

NIHR funds MDX to evaluate drug education programme targeting 13-15 year olds

Betsy Thom, Professor of Health Policy at Middlesex University, will lead research to evaluate a drug education programme targeting 13-15 year-olds created by the charity the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation. 

The research is one of four innovation projects funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) aimed at helping to reduce the use of drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, nitrous oxide and powder cocaine among young people. In total NIHR is awarding a total of £1.8 million to help reduce demand for drugs in young people.

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE and Director of the Foundation will be responsible for delivery of the drug education programme between January and March 2025. The programme includes teacher training, a video, parent workshops, student workshops and lesson materials.

“In evaluating the programme, we are adopting a ‘whole school’ within a ‘whole community’ approach. This acknowledges that to reduce drug demand among young adolescents, drug education interventions in schools are only part of the necessary response. Schools need to have the support of parents and carers and work closely with other stakeholders in the community.” 

Professor Betsy Thom

The Middlesex team is part of the Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. It comprises different faculties and academics including Professor Karen Duke, a criminologist, and Associate Professor Camille Alexis-Garsee, a psychologist. The research team will examine how effective the programme is and the extent to which it can provide students with the knowledge, skills and motivation to avoid drug use. A collaborating team from Bangor University, led by Professor Rhiannon Tudor-Edwards, will analyse the costs and benefits of the programme.

Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash