School resilience programs linked to lower substance use in students

Researchers reviewed existing studies to see if school programs that teach students resilience skills—like coping with stress and peer pressure—affect their use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs. They combined data from 13 studies on tobacco, 14 on alcohol, and 12 on illicit substances, all involving students aged 6 to 18 years. The combined results showed these programs were linked to a reduction in the likelihood of students using each type of substance. The analysis found a modest but consistent link across all three categories. No safety concerns or negative effects from the programs were reported in this review. It's important to be careful because this type of study shows an association, not direct proof that the programs caused the lower substance use. The results from the different studies also varied somewhat, which adds some uncertainty. Readers should see this as encouraging evidence that building resilience in schools might help protect young people, but more research is needed to understand exactly how and why these programs work best.