“A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Behavioural Intervention Bundle on Substance Refusal Skills among College Students in a Selected College in Kozhikode

Abstract

Substance abuse continues to be a growing global concern, underscoring the need for early identification and effective intervention, particularly within the Indian context. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention bundle on substance refusal skills among college students in the Kozhikode district. A quasi-experimental one-group pretest–post-test design was adopted, involving 80 students aged 18–26 years selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Drug and Alcohol Refusal Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES). Before the intervention, 71.25% of participants demonstrated moderate refusal skills, while 28.75% exhibited low skills; none reported high refusal skills. Following the intervention, 13.75% showed high refusal skills, 73.75% moderate skills, and 12.5% low skills. A significant improvement was observed in refusal skills (mean difference = 9.76, p < 0.05). A significant association was found between prior information on substance use and refusal skills, whereas no association was noted with other demographic variables. The findings indicate that the behavioural intervention bundle was effective in enhancing substance refusal skills among college students.