Background: Schools represent a key setting for substance use prevention during adolescence. Multi-component school-based programs aim to influence knowledge, attitudes, and social norms simultaneously, yet evidence regarding their effectiveness remains inconsistent.
Objective: This prospective pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and indicative effects of a multi-component school-based intervention targeting tobacco and cannabinoid use among adolescents.
Methods: A prospective observational design was applied in a Hungarian secondary school. Anonymous self-report questionnaires were administered before, during, and after the intervention (n=417, n=497, and n=631, respectively). Outcome indicators included lifetime and 30-day prevalence of tobacco and cannabinoid use, knowledge, attitudes, and participation in individual program components.
Results: Participation rates differed substantially across intervention components, with peer-led and digitally mediated elements attracting higher engagement. Students who participated in peer group activities or prevention quizzes reported significantly lower rates of cannabinoid experimentation (p<0.05). No significant reduction in overall substance use prevalence was observed over time.
Conclusion: The pilot intervention proved feasible and acceptable within the school environment and successfully reached adolescents who had already experimented with tobacco or cannabinoids. While no clear reduction in prevalence was detected, the program enhanced transparency of substance use patterns and provided valuable insights for refining school-based prevention strategies.