Preventing Substance Abuse

*PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS REPORTING PAST- MONTH USE ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE RESEARCH *NIDA NOTES, Vol 22, Number 4 www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/MTF.html *PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS REPORTING PAST- MONTH USE 2001 2007 2008 Any illicit drug All grades 19.4 14.8 14.6 8th grade 11.7 7.4 7.6 10th grade 22.7 16.9 15.8 12th grade 25.7 21.9 22.3 Cigarettes All grades 20.2 13.6 12.6 8th grade 12.2 7.1 6.8 10th grade 21.3 14.0 12.3 12th grade 29.5 21.6 20.4 Marijuana All grades 16.6 12.4 12.5 8th grade 9.2 5.7 5.8 10th grade 19.8 14.2 13.8 12th grade 22.4 18.8 19.4 Alcohol All grades 35.5 30.1 28.1 8th grade 21.5 15.9 15.9 10th grade 39.0 33.4 28.8 12th grade 49.8 44.4 43.1

DRUGS AND THE MEDIA Prime-Time Drug Prevention Programming Congress approved $1 billion for anti-drug advertising at reduced rates (1997) Struck deal to incorporate drug prevention messages in program content

DEFINING GOALS AND EVALUATING OUTCOMES The Goal Is to Educate You: To make better personal decisions To understand drug use by others To participate in social decisions

DEFINING GOALS AND EVALUATING OUTCOMES The Evaluation Should success be measured by: Altering a person’s drug behavior? Determining how much a person knows about drugs? Knowledge Perception of harm Usage behaviors

Primary Prevention - Universal TYPES OF PREVENTION Primary Prevention - Universal Aimed at people who have not tried substances Might encourage complete abstinence Some danger of creating curiosity

Secondary Prevention - Selective TYPES OF PREVENTION Secondary Prevention - Selective Aimed at those who have tried the drug Urges avoiding more dangerous substances Urges avoiding more dangerous forms of the same substance

Tertiary Prevention - Indicated TYPES OF PREVENTION Tertiary Prevention - Indicated Relapse prevention Follow-up programs

What about Harm Reduction models? TYPES OF PREVENTION What about Harm Reduction models?

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS The Knowledge-Attitudes-Behavior Model Affective Education Values clarification Alternatives to drugs Personal and social skills – developing interpersonal competence as buffer to drug use

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS Drug-Free Schools Government sponsored program in 1986 Did not recommend specific curriculum Suggested school policies on drug and alcohol use Peer Counseling Uses respected students These students given specialized training

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS Development of the Social Influence Model Public commitment Countering advertising Normative education Use of teen leaders

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Joint Los Angeles Police Department and school district Uniformed officers took message to fifth- and sixth-graders Expanded nationally

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Projects that work Several programs patterned after DARE Project ALERT The Life Skills Training Program ATLAS

PEERS, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY Peer Programs Peer influence Peer participation Parent and Family Programs Informational programs Parenting skills Parent support groups Family interaction

PEERS, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY Community Programs Traditional programs Project STAR (Students Taught Awareness and Resistance)

Programs and approaches that don’t work WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING? Programs and approaches that don’t work Scare and “preachy” tactics Simply education