Design and Development of a Serious Game to Prevent Substance Use in Mexican Scholars

Addiction and substance misuse are significant global public health issues, particularly among young people who exhibit higher rates of drug use compared to adults. Therefore, interventions targeting alcohol and drug use among youth are crucial for combating substance abuse and mitigating its long-term effects. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the development and evaluation of serious games to support prevention and treatment for substance use, reporting positive outcomes in terms of acceptability, usability, knowledge enhancement, and changes in attitudes and behaviors toward alcohol and drug consumption. However, to ensure effectiveness, serious games should be tailored to the context of the target population. This paper outlines the methodology for designing and developing a serious game focused on prevention, tailored explicitly to Mexican school-aged youth, particularly secondary and high school students aged 12 to 17. Through two pilot evaluations, we obtained promising results indicating high acceptability among participants and positive reception of the serious game, suggesting it as a promising tool for enhancing knowledge and promoting the prevention of substance and illicit drug use among adolescents in Mexico. Furthermore, we gained valuable insights into the game's design, which could serve as a basis for refining and enhancing the gaming experience not only for our game but also for other serious games in similar contexts.