Different nations have established drug prevention programs to minimize cases of substance abuse in society. There are various drug prevention programs ranging from family-based to school-based programs. United States has invested more capital and time in establishing drug prevention programs because drug abuse is an inherent US problem. America recorded 143,000 deaths in 2014; thus, drug overdose records over 88,000 deaths associated with alcohol usage every year (Murthy, 2017). Most of the programs are directed toward the young generation and teenagers. Policymakers and intellects believe that preventing school-going children from substance abuse will decrease the number of people who suffer from substance use disorders like addiction. They further argue that an early introduction to drug usage results in addiction in later life. Furthermore, teenagers are easily influenced by their peers into using drugs; therefore, taking necessary measures to prevent them from abusing drugs will drastically reduce drug users in a few years. This paper will focus on school, family, and internet-based drug prevention programs and evaluate their viability.
School-based Drug Prevention Programs
Several school-based drug prevention programs have been implemented. Some programs have proven successful than others. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is one of a school-based drug prevention program. DARE is offered to kindergarten school-going child as safety education and then progresses to preventative education in elementary school. The program has gained popularity in the USA and other parts of the world. This popularity is attributed to 75% of the schools have incorporated it in their education schedules (Hanson, 2015). DARE programs focus on equipping students with relevant knowledge about drugs. It emphasizes that children should learn to say no to drugs. It is more of a knowledge impacting program that educates children on the dangers of using drugs.
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Additionally, it focuses on educating school-going children on overcoming peer pressure that may lead to drug abuse. However, the program has proven ineffective as most of the children who have gone through it have shown a profound knowledge about drugs, but that did not stop them from using drugs (Hanson, 2015). The program has failed in its objective because it acts like just another subject to be learned in schools. The program should have been a little bit interactive and practical.
Life Skill Training (LST) program is another school-based drug prevention program. It is administered for three years in classrooms. LST central focus is on psychosocial factors that may lead to substance use. It impacts adolescents with drug resistance knowledge and skills, thus equipping them with relevant skills to possess anti-drug attitudes and norms. The program proves to be successful in delaying the first usage of drugs (Murthy, 2017). However, it is not clear whether the program helps participants not to abuse drugs in the later years. Lastly, Toward No Drug abuse (TND) is also a school-based drug prevention program that focuses on high-risk students for drug and abuse and violence. The program delivers social skill training, decision-making components through games, role-playing, videos, discussions, among other interactive activities. It has led to a significant reduction in alcohol and drug abuse among high school students. The program's success can be attributed to interactive activities.
Family-based Drug Prevention Program
Family-based drug prevention programs aim to strengthen families, equipping parents with appropriate parenting skills to build healthy relationships between parents and children. Parents with healthy relationships with their children can comfortably impart good virtues and morals to their children, including educating them against drug abuse. Children who lack proper guidance from parents constitute a higher percentage of the total drug users either in their teenage life or adult life. Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a family-based drug prevention program that focuses on enhancing parenting skills. Children who have undergone SFP programs with their parents have shown reduced drug use cases than those who do not (Murthy, 2017). Furthermore, the program results in delayed drug usage among teenagers, which can take up to more than nine years after program intervention.
Internet-based drug prevention programs
The world has evolved and advanced immensely to technological use. The internet-based drug prevention programs have proven viable in minimizing substance abuse. For instance, I hear what you are saying is an internet-based program that runs for forty-five minutes. It focuses on managing conflict, setting family rules, and improving communication (Murthy, 2017). Thus, the program offers therapeutic services, lowering individuals' probability of engaging in drugs due to stress. Additionally, Project Chill is another example of an internet-based program that offers therapeutic services that have led to reduced substance abuse cases among youths. The program helps people who are already using drugs to stop.
Reasons why some programs are more successful than others
Undoubtedly, all the programs, either family, school, or internet-based, have contributed significantly to fighting drug abuse. Some school-based programs are more effective than others because of their execution process. For instance, the TND program is more successful than DARE because TND involves interactive activities. In contrast, DARE focuses on impacting students with adequate knowledge. The students perceive the DARE program, just like another school subject they need to learn and understand. The internet-based programs are most viable compared to school-based programs because of their availability nature. When students are done with their studies, they are vulnerable to forget the school-based program's teaching; however, the internet-based programs are easily accessible and at any age. Therefore, they are more effective in fighting drug abuse in society than the school-based programs. Additionally, family-based programs have a longer-lasting effect in fighting drug abuse than school-based programs because the teachings are generated from a family set-up. Children consider and adhere to parents’ moral teachings more than schools’ teachings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are numerous drug prevention programs ranging from school-based to family-based programs. All these programs play a role in fighting drug abuse. They should be administered in schools and families. School-based programs help in impacting students with the necessary skills to fight peer pressure and resist drugs. The family-based programs equip parents with proper parenting skills, therefore developing the ability to impart their children with good moral values.
References
Hanson, D. J. (2015). Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology , 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp084
Murthy, V. H. (2017). Facing addiction in the United States: The surgeon general’s report of alcohol, drugs, and health. JAMA , 317 (2), 133-134.
