Substance abuse curricula vs. school drug policies.
Schools are attempting to reduce substance abuse by implementing policies related to use of alcohol and other drugs in school settings. A review of current trends in adolescent substance use, together with research concerning effectiveness of alcohol and drug education and the impact of legal deterrence, indicate that: 1) neither educational nor school policy strategies by themselves are likely to effectively prevent use and abuse; 2) to be effective, education and policies must acknowledge and incorporate clear statements of community norms about alcohol and drug use; 3) to be effective, educational and policy strategies must complement and reinforce each other; and 4) education and policies must acknowledge and reinforce the positive behavior of the large number of students who do not use or abuse alcohol and other drugs.
Goodstadt
M S
MS
Division of Prevention, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-0969.
D000293:Adolescent; D003479:Curriculum; D006266:Health Education / Q000639:trends*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D012572:School Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D012945:Social Values; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States