Young People's Drug Research Articles

The Integrated Programme: an evaluation of a multicomponent drugs prevention programme in northern England (1996-1999)

Based on North American evidence that multi-component drugs prevention programmes have an impact on reducing young people's drug taking, the Integrated Programme (IP) was designed and delivered to adolescents in northern England during 1998-1999. The IP was evaluated by comparing the attitudes and drug-taking behaviour of nearly 2000 young people before and after programme delivery. Action sites (which received the IP) and comparison sites (which did not) were randomly allocated once baseline survey measurements had been taken. Controlling for key variables multiple logistic regression was used to measure the odds ratio of drug taking on 20 measures for young people in both action and comparison sites based on a follow-up survey. The results suggested that young people who received the IP were more likely to reduce harder drug use and maintain a softer drug-taking repertoire than those in the comparison sites. However, these 'gains' were small and inconsistent and the IP had no impact on reducing initiation/first trying rates. The results were thus only indicative that such programmes might be effective in the UK context.

Young People's Drug Use: facts and feelings - implications for the normalization debate

Young People's Drug Use: facts and feelings - implications for the normalization debate

Young People's Drug Use: facts and feelingsÂimplications for the normalization debate

Much is known about patterns of drug use by young people-especially in terms of measures of 'ever' usage; but relatively little is known about young people's feelings about such usage. This paper will present findings of a quantitative study based on a previous qualitative study. Findings are reported on: drug use; views on the use of cannabis, amphetamines and heroin; views on the health risks of various drugs; and the relationship between reported drug use and expressed views. The findings are discussed in relation to the extent to which illegal drug use can be considered to be 'normalized' as part of young people's lives, towards the end of their compulsory schooling. Whilst the findings provide some evidence for both sides of the 'normalization debate', it is concluded that there is only weak evidence that normalization, even of cannabis use, is true for young people of this age (15-16 years old). However, if drug use is increasing and the age of onset of such use decreasing, then for these young people as they get older, and for future cohorts at the end of their compulsory schooling, normalization of certain forms of drug use may occur.

Young people's drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia: Demographic, social and medical profile

Young people's drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia: Demographic, social and medical profile

Moscow Materials: useful habits

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.

Young people's drug use: facts and feelings.

The study aimed to quantify the major findings of a previous qualitative study on drug use and young people. Findings are reported on drug use; views on the use of cannabis; amphetamines and heroin; and the relationship between these views and reported drug use. Reported usage and feelings about drug use are discussed in relation to the extent to which drug use can be considered to be 'normalised'. There is only weak evidence that normalisation, even of cannabis use, is true for young people towards the end of their compulsory schooling. However the findings provide some evidence for both sides in the 'normalisation debate' against a backdrop of apparent increasing use of drugs. Until more evidence is available, the normalisation debate will continue.

What primary school teachers think of drugs education in their school

This paper examines teachers' views of drugs education in primary schools as indicated by the findings of a survey of primary schools (including through primary schools, junior schools and infant schools) in the former County of Avon. Teachers responding to this survey wanted good in-service support, and publications that can be easily understood and used in the classroom. Teachers expressed the need for support in teaching children at Key Stage 1, that is, for children aged 5 to 7 years. Older children currently receive the bulk of attention. Respondents were divided over the need for teaching infant-school children specifically about illegal drugs. Over half felt that such children were too young. However, over 90 per cent felt that drugs education should begin before secondary school. Schools were generally optimistic about the potential impact of drugs education on young people's drug use. However they overwhelmingly stated that schools should not be seen as the sole source of drugs education for young people.

Drug Education in Schools: a Review

Drug use by young people is widespread and increasing. Attempts to prevent or reduce young people's drug use have focused on school-based education. This paper examines some of these strategies. There is wide agreement that providing information about drugs is necessary but insufficient; in addition, young people need to be given the opportunity to examine attitudes about drug use, develop skills in making decisions about use and look at ways to reduce the harms that are associated with their own and others' use of both legal and illegal drugs. Most commentators are also agreed that drug education needs to start early and should take account of what young people already know about drugs. Peer-led approaches are promising but not yet adequately evaluated. Because there are basic differences in philosophies and equivocal research on the effectiveness of drug education there is little consensus on a number of issues.

Levels of Drug Use Among a Sample of Scottish Schoolchildren

This paper reports on the lifetime prevalence of substance use among a sample of 758 schoolchildren from one Scottish city. The mean age was 13.3 (range 11–16), approximately half the sample were female, virtually all were ethnically white. Just over half (52.6%) of the sample reported lifetime use of tobacco. Alcohol had been consumed by most of the sample with (43.7%) reporting having ever been drunk. About a third of the sample (31.3%) reported ever having used a illegal drug. The drug most likely to be used was cannabis (29.2%). Use of any of the other drugs did not exceed 10%. By age 15 a majority of children in the sample had tried an illegal drug. These schoolchildren also exhibited high levels of awareness about drugs. A substantial proportion had been in situations where drugs were, taken (57.8%) and had themselves been offered drugs (51.6%). They also had friends whom they reported as having personal experience of drugs (57.4%). These data indicate the ubiquitousness of drugs in young people's l...