The Effectiveness of Addiction Prevention Training Program of Turkey on Improved Acquisition of Knowledge and Emotional Awareness about Addiction

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect that the Addiction Prevention Training Program of Turkey (APT) has on increasing primary, middle, and high school students' knowledge and emotional awareness about addiction. A pre-test/post-test one group experimental design was used in the study. The study group consisted of a combined total of 5,570 primary, middle, and high school students from 12 provinces of Turkey from each of the 12 regions in NUTS-1 A dependent t-test was conducted to examine the program's ability in aiding students to acquire knowledge and emotional awareness. APT was found to be effective in increasing students' knowledge and emotional awareness about technology addiction and to be more successful for primary school and high school than for middle school students. The program is successful in combating tobacco addiction. High school students in particular became more informed about tobacco addiction as a result of the program. APT furthermore helped high school students increase their knowledge and emotional awareness about alcohol and drug addiction. Finally, although the program was effective in improving students' knowledge about healthy living, it did not have the same effect in increasing their emotional awareness about it. As a result, the program was effective in improving students' knowledge and emotional awareness about addictions.