Rapid Assessment of Drug Abuse Prevention Needs for Youth in Small Spanish Municipalities: Coping with Resource Limitations

Abstract

This study evaluates the drug abuse prevention needs for Spanish youth in municipalities with a population below 7,000 inhabitants in the province of Valencia, Spain. The primary goal of the project was to generate policy and to identify possible courses of drug prevention in these towns. The project utilized the basic RARE model. Grounded Theory was used to frame the qualitative analysis. Interviews with local cultural experts provided strong evidence that many specifically mandated prevention needs are not adequately covered in small municipalities. The data emphasizes the ways in which young people are critical of the prevention actions directed at them. The recommended programs emphasize (1) joint actions using youth networks, (2) educating parents to take an active role in the prevention chain, (3) extending the range and availability of leisure activities, and (4) making sure that the information campaigns are adapted to the interests of young people.