Preventing drug abuse is a critical, national
public health goal. The simplest and most cost-effective way to lower the human
and societal costs of drug abuse is to prevent it in the first place.
public health goal. The simplest and most cost-effective way to lower the human
and societal costs of drug abuse is to prevent it in the first place.
The following measures are highlight by Dworkin
(2006) to reduce the drug abuse:
(2006) to reduce the drug abuse:
During the early age of the child especially
during adolescent age when which is usually the onset of the use of drug abuse,
the role of the parent is very importance in reducing or preventing it. Parents
who wait to guide their children away from drugs until older ages when
youngsters are more readily influenced by peers or may have started using
alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, decrease their ability to positively
influence children.
during adolescent age when which is usually the onset of the use of drug abuse,
the role of the parent is very importance in reducing or preventing it. Parents
who wait to guide their children away from drugs until older ages when
youngsters are more readily influenced by peers or may have started using
alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, decrease their ability to positively
influence children.
Children whose parents abuse alcohol or other
drugs face heightened risks of developing substance-abuse problems themselves.
Nevertheless, specially crafted prevention messages can break through the
levels of denial inherent in these families. Teachers, coaches, youth workers
in all areas of life from faith communities to scouts, and extended family
members also provide youth with important protection from drug abuse and
support for positive parental training by modelling, teaching, and reinforcing
positive behaviour. Adult addiction can have a devastating impact on children.
By taking small steps, adult mentors can make a permanent difference in the
course of a child’s life.
drugs face heightened risks of developing substance-abuse problems themselves.
Nevertheless, specially crafted prevention messages can break through the
levels of denial inherent in these families. Teachers, coaches, youth workers
in all areas of life from faith communities to scouts, and extended family
members also provide youth with important protection from drug abuse and
support for positive parental training by modelling, teaching, and reinforcing
positive behaviour. Adult addiction can have a devastating impact on children.
By taking small steps, adult mentors can make a permanent difference in the
course of a child’s life.
This goal includes preventing drug abuse and
encouraging current users to quit. The campaign should focus on primary
prevention, which means preventing drug use before it starts. First, primary prevention targets the
underlying causes of drug use and therefore has the greatest potential to
reduce the scope of the problem. Second, over time a primary prevention
campaign will lessen the need for drug treatment, which is in short supply.
Third, a media campaign has greater potential to affirm the anti-drug attitudes
of people who are not involved with drugs than to persuade experienced drug
users to change their behaviour.
encouraging current users to quit. The campaign should focus on primary
prevention, which means preventing drug use before it starts. First, primary prevention targets the
underlying causes of drug use and therefore has the greatest potential to
reduce the scope of the problem. Second, over time a primary prevention
campaign will lessen the need for drug treatment, which is in short supply.
Third, a media campaign has greater potential to affirm the anti-drug attitudes
of people who are not involved with drugs than to persuade experienced drug
users to change their behaviour.
The media have come to play an increasingly
important role in public health campaigns due to their wide reach and ability
to influence behaviour. There is significant evidence that carefully planned
mass media campaigns can reduce substance abuse by countering false perceptions
that drug use is normative and influencing personal beliefs that motivate drug
use. Media campaigns have been used to prevent or reduce consumption of illegal
drugs and smoking along with risky behaviour like driving under the influence
of alcohol or without seat belts. For all their power to inform and persuade,
the media alone are unlikely to bring about large, sustained changes in drug
use. The anti-drug campaign will be truly successful only if media efforts are
coordinated with initiatives that reinforce one another in homes, schools, and
communities.
important role in public health campaigns due to their wide reach and ability
to influence behaviour. There is significant evidence that carefully planned
mass media campaigns can reduce substance abuse by countering false perceptions
that drug use is normative and influencing personal beliefs that motivate drug
use. Media campaigns have been used to prevent or reduce consumption of illegal
drugs and smoking along with risky behaviour like driving under the influence
of alcohol or without seat belts. For all their power to inform and persuade,
the media alone are unlikely to bring about large, sustained changes in drug
use. The anti-drug campaign will be truly successful only if media efforts are
coordinated with initiatives that reinforce one another in homes, schools, and
communities.
This method should include the use of media
outlets, paid advertisements with public-service time for advertisements and
pro-bono programming content. Public-service advertising space generated by the
paid campaign is being dedicated to messages that target underage drinking and
smoking, as well as other messages related to the campaign’s communications
objectives.
outlets, paid advertisements with public-service time for advertisements and
pro-bono programming content. Public-service advertising space generated by the
paid campaign is being dedicated to messages that target underage drinking and
smoking, as well as other messages related to the campaign’s communications
objectives.
This will require schools to adopt effective
drug and violence policies and programs, annual safety and drug use report
cards, links to after school programs, and efforts to involve parents. This
should include community leaders, state education agencies, local education
agencies, institutions of higher education, and community organizations, adopt
programs, policies and practices that are based on research and evaluation.
drug and violence policies and programs, annual safety and drug use report
cards, links to after school programs, and efforts to involve parents. This
should include community leaders, state education agencies, local education
agencies, institutions of higher education, and community organizations, adopt
programs, policies and practices that are based on research and evaluation.
There should be a national mentoring program to
focus on some of the problems people face, including alcohol and drug abuse.
Adult mentors should be recruited and trained to reach at-risk people through
demonstration programs. This initiative will help communities adopt effective,
science-based programs to strengthen tutoring and mentoring, both of which
enhance youth resiliency and reduce psychosocial factors that put families at
risk.
focus on some of the problems people face, including alcohol and drug abuse.
Adult mentors should be recruited and trained to reach at-risk people through
demonstration programs. This initiative will help communities adopt effective,
science-based programs to strengthen tutoring and mentoring, both of which
enhance youth resiliency and reduce psychosocial factors that put families at
risk.
There should be initiative that is designed to
reduce psychoactive substance usage. Major components of this initiative should
include provision of states and communities technical assistance and
information about research-based prevention and encourage collaboration with
private and community-based organizations.
reduce psychoactive substance usage. Major components of this initiative should
include provision of states and communities technical assistance and
information about research-based prevention and encourage collaboration with
private and community-based organizations.
