Harm Reduction and Education ProgrammesWhy "Just Say No" doesn't work
This is an excerpt from the NORML Submission to the Health Select Committee Inquiry, 2001. Note: for some simple tips to protect your health see the Marijuana Harm Reduction Advice page.
CANNABIS HARM REDUCTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
Most current school-based drug education programmes are centered on advocating an abstinence approach. These "Just Say No" programmes may be effective only for those students who had not already tried drugs, and there is no conclusive evidence to show even that outcome. The Health Committee's 1998 report Mental Health Effects of Cannabis commented:
"For pupils already involved in experimentation, these programmes tended to increase their sense of alienation by labelling them as deviant ... that alienation could increase the likelihood of negative outcomes such as dropping out of school or suicide."
Evaluations of drug education programmes in the United States have found a raising of awareness of drug issues, and an increased likelihood that adolescents will describe illicit drug use as harmful, but little evidence that drug use rates were reduced. In some areas, drug use has actually increased following drug education programmes, and as a result many local education bodies have moved to ban the DARE programme in particular.
Evaluations of school-based drug education programmes in New Zealand are almost non-existent, and recent guidelines developed by the Ministry of Education have yet to be adopted by many providers. For some schools, it often seems the outcome they want is that something is taught, rather than the ensuring that programmes actually influence behaviour. For many schools it is easier and tempting to simply rid themselves of the problem by suspending or expelling pupils caught using cannabis. The Health Committee's 1998 report Mental Health Effects of Cannabis recognised that this response is no solution:
"There is a need to ensure that chronic users of drugs remained within a supportive matrix of school and family. The tendency of schools to sanction students caught using cannabis through suspensions and expulsions may be counterproductive in this respect."
NORML agrees with the findings of this report that school-based cannabis education programmes "should adopt a holistic approach, educating students on cannabis in combination with alcohol and tobacco education." NORML endorses the Ministry of Education's guidelines for effective drug education in New Zealand:
- legal and illegal drugs should be scrutinised equally;
- the target audience may determine whether the approach favours abstinence or responsible use;
- supply reduction efforts should be combined with demand reduction efforts;
- drug education should target adults as well as children;
- all drug harm minimisation programmes should support, and be consistent with, the curriculum being taught in the school;
- educational programmes targeting Maori are more effective if conducted by Maori, using their own networks and communication systems; and
- a holistic, community-based strategy utilising iwi, education, health and justice linkages to confront cannabis use at every level in the community will encourage Maori people to make informed choices.
The Health Committee noted in it's 1998 report that "Drug education programmes should be designed to meet the needs of all pupils. This involves providing appropriate education, advice and support to non-users, occasional users and heavy users of cannabis. It is important that people are assisted to make informed choices about the use of drugs."
School-based drug education programmes are but part of a holistic approach to reducing problematic drug use. Prevention efforts must involve educating the wider community about risks faced by decisions to use all drugs, and ways to mitigate these risks.
A harm minimisation approach is advocated by the National Drug Policy. For cannabis users, this could involve:
- advising people who consume cannabis to do so only in moderation. Use of any drug every day is more likely to be harmful than more moderate and occasional use.
- people who develop physical or psychological problems from recreational use of cannabis should be offered medical help. Treatment should be evidence based. Behaviour change is more likely (and less expensive) following treatment than coercion.
- harm reduction information for cannabis smokers should provide ways to reduce the harmful effects of inhaling cannabis smoke
- people with a history of mental illness should be advised to avoid cannabis or minimise use.
- people who consume cannabis should be advised to avoid driving for several hours. If alcohol and cannabis have been consumed together, this period should be extended.
Unless stated otherwise, copyright © 1998-2005 by NORML New Zealand, working for marijuana law reform Published on: 2003-07-29 (3984 reads) [ Go Back ] |
