Retraction of “Preventing tobacco and alcohol use among high school students through a hybrid online and in-class intervention: A randomized controlled trial,” by Williams et al. (2025).

, 2025[Sep], Vol 39[6], 528-540; see record 2025-86677-001). The published paper reported an incorrect registration number for https://clinicaltrials.gov/. When comparing the correct https://clinicaltrials.gov/ trial registration (NCT03219190) and the published article, there were several discrepancies between the protocol as reported in the published paper and the appropriate https://clinicaltrials.gov/ registry, which deviated from accepted standards for the reporting of RCTs. The outcomes reported in the published article were not specified as primary or secondary outcomes of the trial. The Allocation (randomized) sample size (n = 1804) was markedly less than the registered Anticipated sample size of n = 3000. The age range for the population listed in the https://clinicaltrials.gov/ registration (11-14 years old) was younger than the average age of participants in the published paper (mean age = 15.2). (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2025-86677-001.) Objective: School-based health promotion programs can have a positive effect on behavioral and social outcomes among adolescents. Yet, limited classroom time and suboptimal program implementation can reduce the potential impact of these interventions. In the present randomized trial, we tested the effectiveness of a classroom-based substance use prevention program that was adapted for hybrid implementation. METHOD: = 1,235) completed confidential online pretest and posttest surveys to assess the effects of the intervention on tobacco and alcohol use and life skills. The sample was 50.7% female and 35.5% non-White with a mean age of 15.2 years. RESULTS: Analyses revealed significant program effects on current cigarette smoking, alcohol use, drunkenness, and intentions for future use. There were also program effects for communication, media resistance, anxiety management, and refusal skills. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings suggest that hybrid approaches can produce robust prevention effects and may help reduce barriers to the widespread adoption and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).