Verbos Ii Kenneth W, Agolli Arjola, Sandelich Stephen, Alvarado Anthony, Jusufagic Alma, Croes Kenneth D, Zgierska Aleksandra E
Family Medicine Residency, McLaren Northern Michigan Rural Training Program, Petoskey, MI, USA.
Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2025 Aug 11;20(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s13722-025-00595-6.
Substance use often begins in adolescence, making early identification and prevention essential to avert downstream harms, including substance use disorders. This study evaluated the impact of a peer-led, school-based storytelling program on participating middle- and high school students.
A cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey was distributed from 2014 to 2020 to Midwestern middle and high-schoolers who had attended a school-based event, "Ignite & Engage," led by a recovery community organization (RCO). Descriptive statistics summarized quantitative and an inductive thematic analysis summarized qualitative survey results.
Of 10,438 surveyed students, 2,853 (27.3%) reported ever using substances The majority (55.2%) reported initiating substance use between the ages of 14 and 16 years, and 29.2% initiated it at an earlier age. The program impact was rated by 996 respondents, with 71.3% of them viewing it favorably and 76.3% noting presenters' personal recovery stories as the most valuable elements, and 51.2% feeling less likely to use alcohol or drugs afterwards, an effect stronger in middle- than high school youth (60.3% vs. 49.5%, respectively, p < 0.001). Qualitative feedback (N = 2,884) echoed the quantitative findings, emphasizing students' greater intent to avoid substance use, seek help, support peers, and reflect on recovery.
This school-based storytelling program, delivered by presenters with lived experience of addiction recovery, represents a promising, novel approach to substance use prevention and harm reduction among middle- and high school students.
物质使用通常始于青少年时期，因此早期识别和预防对于避免包括物质使用障碍在内的下游危害至关重要。本研究评估了一项由同伴主导、基于学校的讲故事项目对参与的初中和高中学生的影响。
2014年至2020年期间，对参加过由康复社区组织（RCO）举办的校内活动“点燃与参与”的中西部初中生和高中生进行了一项横断面、匿名在线调查。描述性统计总结了定量数据，归纳主题分析总结了定性调查结果。
在10438名接受调查的学生中，2853名（27.3%）报告曾使用过物质。大多数（55.2%）报告在14至16岁之间开始使用物质，29.2%在更早的年龄开始使用。996名受访者对该项目的影响进行了评分，其中71.3%给予好评，76.3%指出讲述者的个人康复故事是最有价值的元素，51.2%感觉之后使用酒精或毒品的可能性降低，这种效果在初中学生中比高中学生更强（分别为60.3%和49.5%，p<0.001）。定性反馈（N=2884）与定量结果一致，强调学生有更强的意愿避免物质使用、寻求帮助、支持同伴并反思康复。
这个由有成瘾康复生活经历的讲述者实施的基于学校的讲故事项目，是一种有前景的、新颖的预防和减少初中及高中学生物质使用危害的方法。
