Chapter 10 + Lecture 9 Flashcards
What is the problem with education as the main method of prevention?
- Ignores structural and environmental stresses
- Sole focus is on individual accountability
- Debate about its effectiveness
Educational prevention programs are typically divided into what 3 categories?
- Universal
- Directed towards entire populations
- i.e., all kids in 6th grade
- no focus on the individual
- intended to help build resilience, healthy lifestyles, and reduce risk of using - Selective
- Targeted at higher risk groups based on certain characteristics (i.e., familial, peer background, etc.)
- Longer and more intense programming - Indicated
- Aimed at people already using substances
- Goal: minimize risks without complete abstinence
- May include treatment or be combined with family counselling
What is the most widely evaluated and criticized drug education program?
DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
What are a few problems with drug education in schools?
- No standardized curriculum
- No consistent mandates or regulation
- Little evaluation of effects
When DARE was formally studied in the 1990s researchers found (3 main findings):
- None or very small effects on use
- Short-term effects on attitudes
- All effects disappear within 5 years
When DARE was evaluated in 2009 because of the new curriculum, researchers found (2 main findings):
- Some evidence of influence on beliefs and attitudes
- No evidence of change in use
DARE is based on a _________ model which only focuses on demand without any discussion of structural and environmental issues
police
DARE, like so much of the addiction field, remains focused on only the _______________ without any consideration of the context of drug use
individual
Society’s main drug educators remain ____________ and ____________
police; teachers
What are 3 pros of teachers as drug educators?
- Rapport with students
- Understanding of classroom dynamics
- Have background info on students
What are 2 cons of teachers as drug educators?
- Often lack formal training
- Own views may conflict with abstinence-based messages
What are 4 pros of police officers as drug educators?
- May build relationships between police, children, and schools
- Gives teachers a break
- Doesn’t require teachers to teach something that may feel is misleading or hypocritical
- Avoids potential loss of student respect for teachers
What are 5 cons of police officers as drug educators?
- “Just Say No” and fear arousal is ineffective
- Discussion of harm minimization and use is impossible
- Students unlikely to participate in open discussion
- Lack of connection with students’ own experiences and beliefs
- Confusion about which drugs are harmful
What are the 11 criteria for effective drug education programs?
- Research based
- Developmentally appropriate
- Social resistance skills training
- Normative education
- Comprehensive health education and skills training
- Interactive teaching
- Teacher training and support
- Adequate coverage and follow-up
- Cultural sensitivity
- Family, community, etc., integration
- Evaluation
In 2014 a survey was conducted assessing the percentage of schools offering specific drug and alcohol programming in Ontario. It was found that the largest percentage was associated with…
no education offered
What are the 4 models of drug education?
- Information/Knowledge
- Values/Decision-Making
- Social Competency
- Harm Minimization/Harm Reduction
Information/Knowledge Models
- Oldest form of drug education
- Two forms of delivery: fact-based and fear-based
Values/Decision-Making Models
- Life skills training
- Improve self-esteem
Normative approach
Challenges perception that “everyone does drugs”
Social Competency Models
- Peer pressure resistance
Harm Minimization/Harm Reduction Models
- Most recently created
- Combines elements of previous 3 models
- Accurate info
- Not focused on abstinence
