Prevention of drug abuse

 By: Astha Raghav. 

Drug prevention programs are designed to provide the education and support necessary to diminish drug dependency in communities, schools and the workplace. Drug abuse prevention has become an important first step in informing specific individuals about the dangers of addiction, prevention techniques and where to find recovery help if it should be deemed necessary.

DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION – EDUCATION IS KEY

Drug abuse prevention begins with education, spreading the word regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself and to the community. These programs are just the beginning. The information provided is most effective when it is followed up with continued support. Drug prevention programs seek to involve the family, community or workplace in the prevention process. To be effective, communities need to sustain the progress. This often requires continued leadership and financial support.

IMPORTANT FACTS

Drug abuse has a pervasive effect on an entire community. Understanding drug use risk factors and spreading the word through prevention programs is the best defense against drug abuse.

• Parental monitoring has been the most effective way to slow the expansion of drugs in family situations.
• School drug prevention programs serve a valuable purpose in first time users aged 12-17.
• Schools with strict compliance rules and counseling support have been successful at reducing usage.
• The National Institute Against Drug Abuse (NIDA) has found that gains resulting from community drug prevention programs far outweigh the financial investment by the community.
• Programs should make sure to address all aspects of drug abuse. This includes underage use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, illicit street drugs, inhalants and the inappropriate use of legal drugs such as prescription and over the counter drugs.
• These programs must also be tailored to the specific needs of the audience. Having specialized programs for different genders, ages, cultures and ethnicities only make the programs more effective.

PROGRAMS FOR DRUG PREVENTION

As previously mentioned, drug prevention begins with education. This education can take place at a number of levels including:

• Family Based Drug Prevention. The prevention of drug abuse should start inside the family unit as early as possible. There are many obvious benefits of home based drug prevention education including self-awareness, and the enhancement of parent-child communication skills and family bonding. Parental supervision and involvement are critical in adolescents. Parents must not only have a plan to educate their children on the dangers of drug use and abuse, but they must also establish and enforce family rules. This includes creating an effective system of monitoring their children’s activities.
• School Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs. Drug abuse prevention should be addressed as early as preschool. Preschool children can benefit from learning how to handle aggression, solve problems, and communicate better so that they can avoid putting themselves at risk for drug abuse later in life. Middle and high school programs should focus on peer relationships, communication, assertiveness, drug resistance skills and developing anti-drug attitudes. School based prevention programs should be repeated often for the best level of success.
• Community Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs. Communities that make an effort to come together in the fight against drugs are sure to make an impact in the prevention of drug abuse. There are many places to establish these prevention programs including schools, churches and community based clubs.
• Thank you!