Moscow Materials: useful habits

Abstract

In 1998 drug education teaching materials for use in Moscow schools were published under the title Useful Habits. The production of these materials formed part of a long-term drug education project by Project HOPE. There has been increasing official recognition of drug and alcohol use in post-1991 Russia. A 1997 Drug Use Survey of 1000 10-15-year-olds in North Moscow schools, which formed part of Project HOPE's work, showed an established use of tobacco and alcohol, high use of inhalants and some use of other substances, prescribed and illegal, by the age of 15. The teaching materials have been produced by local practitioners informed by 'Western' content and methodology. The materials were evaluated at first draft stage by an English-speaking external consultant to monitor appropriateness for age group, consistency, skills' content; and to assist in designing a training programme. The consultancy report confirmed the importance of skills content and active learning methodology. A survey of student users of the materials indicated a high level of learning and involvement, and attitudinal shifts. Surveys of teacher users of the materials confirmed professional approval of the materials, their content and methodology, but questioned their impact on students' behaviour. A Memorandum of Agreement between Project HOPE and the Ministry of Education for the Russian Federation was signed in July 1998. This represented governmental approval of the materials and an acceptance of the need for programmes of drug education and prevention. The materials have been adopted since September 1998 for use throughout the Russian Federation, and a national training programme is being established. A second stage of evaluation (spring to summer 1999) is looking at detailed amendments to the existing materials and their possible extension to include older students. There was a Russian Federation Ministry of Education/Ministry of Health seminar in late May to discuss the implications of the project's findings on young people's drug education and prevention.