The Effect of Educational Program Based on the COM-B Model on the Adoption of Preventive Behaviors against the Tendency for Addiction in Sensation-Seeking Male Students of Junior School

Drug abuse usually starts in adolescence; it is influenced by factors such as gender, age, psychological factors affecting sensation seeking and social communication. The COM-B model includes a full range of behavioral concepts and is suitable for intervention regarding substance abuse. This research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the impact of education on the prevention of substance abuse among students.

An experimental study with a randomized controlled trial type was carried out. Using cluster method, two clusters were randomly selected from trhe schools on the outskirts of the city; one school was determined as intervention, and the other as control with a sample size of 50 people in each group. With Zuckerman's sensation seeking questionnaire, students were examined, and those with a positive score were evaluated with the COM-B substance abuse tendency questionnaire. Educational interventions were implemented for the intervention group. After completion of the intervention and three later, this questionnaire was completed by both groups.

In the intervention group, the scores of physical capacity (p=0/001), mental capacity (p=0/001), reflective motivation (p<0/05), automatic motivation (p<0/05), and preventive behavior against substance abuse increased after the intervention (p<0/05), but no significant difference was observed in the opportunity score in the studied times. In the control group, there was no significant difference in the scores of any of the variables during the study.

The implementation of educational programs based on COM-B model is effective in reducing the tendency of students to abuse drugs.