The FRANK friends study: a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating a school-based drug prevention intervention

A multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a school-based peer-led drug prevention intervention

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN72047541

Enrollment

7242

Registered

2019-08-23

Start date

2019-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2022-05-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Prevention of illicit drugs Not Applicable

Interventions

Current interventions as of 09/01/2020: This trial will introduce and evaluate FRANK Friends (the “intervention”) which is a school-based peer-led drug prevention intervention. In each

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Students in UK Year 9 (aged 13-14)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Fee-paying schools 2. Special schools (e.g. for those with learning disabilities) 3. Pupil referral units 4. Schools with less than 60 students in Year 9 5. Schools likely to be closed or merged during the trial 6. Those that received the FRANK friends intervention in the pilot

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Lifetime illicit drug use is assessed using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. The use of any illicit drug over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 2. The use of specific illicit drugs over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 3. The frequency of use of any illicit drug over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 4. The frequency of use of specific illicit drugs over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up. 5. Cannabis dependency assessed using the Cannabis Abuse Screen Test (CAST) at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 6. Smoking (lifetime and weekly smoking status) assessed using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up (weekly smoking defined as usually smoking = one cigarette a week) 7. The frequency of alcohol consumption (past 12 months, month and week) assessed using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 8. Alcohol use disorder defined as consuming = 3 whole alcoholic drinks in the past year using a self-report on the frequency of alcohol consumption at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 9. Health-related quality of life assessed using the Child Health Utility 9D using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up	—

Measure

Time frame

1. The use of any illicit drug over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 2. The use of specific illicit drugs over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 3. The frequency of use of any illicit drug over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 4. The frequency of use of specific illicit drugs over the past 12 months, past month and week assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and a 24-month follow-up. 5. Cannabis dependency assessed using the Cannabis Abuse Screen Test (CAST) at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 6. Smoking (lifetime and weekly smoking status) assessed using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up (weekly smoking defined as usually smoking = one cigarette a week) 7. The frequency of alcohol consumption (past 12 months, month and week) assessed using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 8. Alcohol use disorder defined as consuming = 3 whole alcoholic drinks in the past year using a self-report on the frequency of alcohol consumption at baseline and a 24-month follow-up 9. Health-related quality of life assessed using the Child Health Utility 9D using a self-report questionnaire at baseline and a 24-month follow-up

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom, Wales

Contacts

Public ContactJames White

whitej11@cf.ac.uk+44 (0)29 20 687054

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026