Preventing Substance Abuse

DRUGS AND THE MEDIA Prime-Time Drug Prevention Programming Congress approved $1 billion for anti-drug advertising at reduced rates 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 ?

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

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

TYPES OF PREVENTION Tertiary Prevention Relapse prevention Follow-up programs

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

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS “Just Say No!” Seeking strategies Evaluating the success of strategies

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

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)

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING? Things to Do Programs and approaches that work

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