DISCUSSION
Our study results confirmed the effectiveness
of a school-based, drug-use prevention program
integrating the TPB and life skills developed for and
evaluated among junior high school students in Taiwan.
Compared to conventional and control groups,
the experimental group had higher posttest scores
for attitude, subjective norm, PBC, and life skills,
and also had higher scores than the control group
in ‘‘intention not to use illicit drugs.’’ Our results
agreed with those of previous studies5,15 and provided
preliminary support for combining psychosocial construct
and life skill competencies to prevent student
drug use.
This program was unique in its integration of the
TPB and life skills. The TPB structures key elements
to predict behavioral intention, whereas life skills
embody evidence-based strategies for prevention. A
life skills program builds up a skills repertoire that
allows students to deal with life’s everyday challenges.
Integrating life skills into the design of our drug-use
prevention program enhanced the TPB construct and
amplified program effects, and the reinforcing reports
that improved life skills can enhance protective factors against drug use.22 A life skills training program also
effectively prevented tobacco and drug use among high
school students in Thailand; students there demonstrated
significant positive effects regarding knowledge
level, attitudes and development of refusal, and
decision-making and problem-solving skills.23 Promoting
life skills in prevention of substance abuse among
fifth graders also proved effective.15 In this study, the
life skills variable was an independent predictor for
intention not to use drugs in addition to TPB variables.
Also, the experimental group had a significantly higher
score in life skills than the conventional and control
groups at follow-up, suggesting that the intervention
program could enhance life skills and lead to druguse
prevention. Booster sessions have been a useful
adjunct to maintain behavioral effects of drug-use prevention
programs24 and should be included in future
program development.