Interactive Drug Education: Best Practices can be Fun!

1. Interactive Drug Education: Best Practices can be Fun! Jeanne Block, RN, MS Youth Project Coordinator Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico

2. RESEARCH ON EFFECTIVE DRUG EDUCATION

3. Evaluation Study of Effective Prevention Programs • 207 school-based programs and 99 non-school-based programs were reviewed • Funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • Results published in Journal of Primary Prevention (2000).

4. Study Findings “Interactive programs which foster interpersonal skills and active engagement between students and teachers… are more effective at reducing, preventing, or delaying adolescent drug use for all substances…”

5. Study Findings Although non-interactive programs (i.e. lecture) are only marginally effective at reducing, preventing or delaying adolescent drug use, they are used at 90% of U.S. schools.

6. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. Blah, Blah

7. WHAT IS INTERACTIVE EDUCATION?

8. Interactive Drug Education • Role plays • Small group discussion • Skills-based training • Interactive games and exercises • Debates • Student-lead presentations and discussions

9. Role Plays Role plays are a fun and safe way to “discuss” difficult topics. Here are some suggestions for topics: • Talk to a friend who drinks and drives • Talk to a friend about using prescription drugs • An acquaintance is passed out at a party – what would you do? What are other examples of role plays you could use in the classroom?

10. Research Topics for Small Group or Student-lead Discussion Divide class into pairs or small groups and have them choose topics of interest within the category “drugs and alcohol.” Suggested topics: • Binge drinking • Abuse of prescription drugs • Effective drug education for teens • Effective alcohol and drug policies at schools What are other examples of research or discussion topics for the classroom?

11. Debates Divide class into pairs or small groups, have them choose topics for debate (pro and con), and allow them time for research. Suggested topics: • Do scare tactics work to prevent drug use? • Are legal drugs more acceptable (or safer) than illegal drugs? • Is random student drug testing an effective prevention policy? • Do media images of alcohol and drug use impact teens’ use? What are other examples of debate topics for the classroom?

12. Fear-based Messages: Don’t Do It! In 2004, a National Institutes of Health science panel found that programs that rely on scare tactics to prevent children and adolescents from engaging in negative behavior are not only ineffective, but may have damaging effects. (“Don’t Do It! Ineffective Prevention Strategies”, Colorado Department of Education).

13. Prevention Programs: • Should address all forms of drug misuse, including: • the underage use of legal drugs (i.e., alcohol); • the use of illegal drugs; and • the inappropriate use of legally obtained substances, including inhalants and prescription and OTC medications. • Should be long-term with repeated interventions.

14. Prevention Programs: • Are most effective when they use interactive techniques and involve active learning. • Are cost-effective when research-based programs are used. For each $1 invested in prevention, a savings in up to $10 in treatment can be seen. From “Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders.” National Institutes of Health, US Dept. of Health & Human Services, 2003.

15. Drug Policy Alliance New MexicoJust4Teens Drug Education Project Teacher Training and Resources The facts… NOT scare tactics Interactive Education Jeanne Block, RN, MSYouth Project CoordinatorDrug Policy Alliance New Mexico jblock@drugpolicy.org (505) 983-3277