Theatre-in-Education for Preventing Illicit Substance Use Among Adolescents: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Realist Evaluation

Background

Illicit substance use remains a significant public health challenge among adolescents in the UK, with prevalence particularly high in areas of South East England. Early intervention is critical for preventing escalation and promoting resilience in young people. Theatre-in-Education offers a promising approach, combining professional theatre performance with structured educational activities to engage students both cognitively and emotionally. Despite its growing use in Personal, Social, Health and Economic education, robust evidence on its effectiveness and mechanisms of action for substance use prevention is limited.