Welcome to Strong & Deadly Futures!
Adolescence is a pivotal stage in shaping a young person’s future. Research shows that the earlier young people begin using alcohol or other drugs, the greater their risk of negative outcomes later in life, including poor academic performance, school disengagement, alcohol or drug dependence, and mental ill-health. Prevention plays a crucial role in supporting young people to reach their full potential. For example, every year a teenager delays drinking alcohol reduces their likelihood of developing alcohol dependence in adulthood by 10%.
Strong & Deadly Futures is a culturally inclusive, curriculum-aligned alcohol and drug prevention program created specifically for secondary students. It is the first program of its kind to be co-developed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and educators. The program takes a strengths-based approach, embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives alongside evidence-based strategies to empower all students, promote safe attitudes, enhance psychological wellbeing, and prevent alcohol and drug-related harm.
To support social and emotional wellbeing, Strong & Deadly Futures draws on the latest research and is informed by extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and communities. Core learning outcomes are delivered through an animated story that follows a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous teenagers. These key messages are then reinforced through interactive classroom activities that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural strengths and build practical skills.
Strong & Deadly Futures aims to
• Prevent the uptake of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among young people.
• Foster safe attitudes towards alcohol and other drugs, promoting responsible decision-making.
• Enhance psychological wellbeing and empower students to navigate challenges effectively.
How was Strong & Deadly Futures Developed?
Strong & Deadly Futures was developed by researchers at the University of Sydney (Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, CRE in Indigenous Health & Alcohol) in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creative agencies Gilimbaa, GARUWA, and CAUSE/AFFECT.
Program development was informed through consultations with Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous students, educators, Aboriginal health organisations, and community members. The pilot program was developed and pilot tested in partnership with four school (2017-2019), and further refined based on feedback from 22 communities across New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia (2020-2024). To learn more about the development process of Strong & Deadly Futures, check out our Acknowledgments page and behind-the-scenes video.
Does Strong & Deadly Futures improve wellbeing?
The Strong & Deadly Futures pilot program with Year 7 and 8 students (12-14 years old) yielded promising results. The program was well received by both students and teachers, and participants demonstrated increased knowledge of alcohol and drug harm minimisation, along with reduced psychological distress following completion of the program.
Building on this success, the program is now being evaluated against standard drug education through a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 22 secondary schools across New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. The findings will offer important insights into the program’s effectiveness in improving wellbeing and preventing harms related to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
As the trial comes to a close, Strong & Deadly Futures is being made widely available to secondary schools across Australia. To express your interest in bringing Strong & Deadly Futures to your school or community, email us at info@strongdeadly.org.au.
To read more about our program development and research, click on the articles below
- A Web-Based Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program (Strong & Deadly Futures) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander School Students: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (2022)
- Acceptability and feasibility of Strong & Deadly Futures, a culturally-inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander secondary students (2022)
- Strong and Deadly Futures: Co-Development of a Web-Based Wellbeing and Substance Use Prevention Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non-Aboriginal Adolescents (2021)
- An ecological model of drug and alcohol use and related harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A systematic review of the literature (2020)
Knowledge Translation Materials:
- Far North Queensland Consultation Summary (2024)
- Community Consultation Summary (2022)