Chapter 16 Drug Prevention and Education

Illicit Drug Use

Goals for Drug Prevention  To prevent drug use from being initiated  To minimize the risks of drugs to the user  To reduce the risks of drug use to society  To prevent drug dependency  To teach responsible drug use  To stop drug use patterns  To delay the onset of drug use

Drug Prevention  Primary: to prevent drug use from being initiated (education)  Secondary: responsible drug use  Tertiary: rehabilitation

Drug Prevention Continuum

Identifying High Risk Youth  High risk behaviors include: Delinquent behavior, self-destructive behaviors, and dropping out of school  Risk factors include: Individual behavioral factors Individual attitudinal factors Individual psychosocial factors Family factors Community environmental factors

Resiliency Resiliency = the ability to resist Characteristics of resilient children:  Responsive  Cultivate positive relationships  Caring  Skillful problem solvers

Resiliency  Educationally motivated  Active  Adaptable  Good sense of humor  Success-oriented  Disengages from harmful family environments

Individual Behavior Factors  Academic failure  Early antisocial behavior  Early drug experimentation  Early drug use

Individual Attitudinal Factors  Rebelliousness against authority  Lack of commitment to school  Attraction to deviance  Unfavorable attitudes toward adult behavior

Individual Psychosocial Factors  Low self-esteem  Low self-efficacy  Sensation seeking  Lack of social skills

Family Factors  Family history of drug use or antisocial behavior  Family management problems  Parental tolerance for deviance  Family disorganization

Community Environment Factors  Economic and social deprivation  Community disorganization  Community norms favorable to deviance  Availability of drugs  Friends/peers who use drugs

Preventing High-Risk Behavior  Education  Involvement of parents  Community efforts

Factors that Prevent Drug Abuse  Small family with little conflict  High intelligence  Being a firstborn child  Commitment to education  Regular church attendance  Belief in the expectations, values, and norms of society  High achievement

Primary Prevention: What Works?  Valuing and maintaining sound personal health  Understanding the effects of drugs on health  Respecting laws and rules that prohibit drug use  Recognizing and resisting pressure to use drugs

Primary Prevention: What Works?  Promoting activities reinforcing a positive, drug-free lifestyle

Current Approaches to Drug Education  Personal and social skills training  Resistance skills training  Drug prevention programs  Drug abuse resistance education (DARE)  JUST SAY NO!

Problems with Drug Education  Teachers often do not keep-up with the latest information.  Students sometimes know more about drugs than the teacher.  Some teachers are judgmental or moralistic.  Goals of drug education are often unclear.  Goals of drug education are often unrealistic.

Effectiveness of Drug Education  Effective programs include curriculum based on an understanding of theory and research in drug abuse prevention.  Information is developmentally appropriate.  Curriculum emphasizes social resistance skills.

Effectiveness of Drug Education  Teachers receive training and support.  Amount of time devoted to drug abuse prevention is sufficient.  Programs are culturally sensitive.  School-based programs include the family, community, and media.  Evaluation is necessary to determine effectiveness of the program.

Summary  Drug prevention can be primary, secondary, or tertiary.  High-risk youth exhibit self-destructive behaviors and delinquent behaviors.  Resiliency is a key concept to preventing drug use, misuse, and abuse among youth.

Summary  Low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, sensation seeking, and lack of social skills puts one at higher risk for substance abuse.  Education, involvement with parents, and community efforts together help to prevent high-risk behaviors.  Drug education can be effective if it meets specific criteria.