The Adventure Trial tested the impact of a personality-targeted intervention delivered by teachers on substance use and misuse among pupils in London. This followed the reported success of the Preventure trial, which found that personality-targeted interventions were effective in reducing motivations for drinking that involve coping with negative feelings, and reducing symptoms of problem drinking during a two-year period.

Key points From summary and commentary:
• The Adventure Trial examined whether personality-relevant coping skills could prevent drinking problems among London high school pupils.
• High-risk young people were allocated to receive an intervention matched to their specific vulnerability (‘hopelessness’, ‘anxiety-sensitivity’, ‘impulsivity’, or ‘sensation-seeking’).
• Long-term benefits were observed, with reduced odds of high-risk pupils in the intervention group reporting drinking, ‘binge’ drinking, and problem drinking, compared to peers allocated to receive standard drug education