An Alcohol Education Course for Young Offenders: A Prelimiary Report*

Abstract

The prognosis for problems drinkers who are ‘treated’ before they develop serious alcohol dependence is much better than is that for severely dependent alcoholics, but the former are less likely to seek help for their problems. Industrial alcoholism programmes, drunk-driver programmes and alcohol programmes with young offenders are examples of ways in which preventive interventions are possible and some of the evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of such developments is discussed. It is concluded that secondary prevention (i.e. intervention with groups already suffering alcohol-related problems) is a more feasible goal than is primary prevention and the most promising methods to achieve this appear to be didactic/behaviourally-based programmes which make use of self-help manuals on the one hand, and small-group discussion methods on the other. An alcohol education course for young offenders which integrates these promising methods, and which is currently operating in Tayside, is described.