What

does this mean for school

counselors?

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Just because a program is popular
doesnt mean its evidence-based.

What Doesnt Work?

u Knowledge-based programs that

teach the physical and
psychological effects of drugs
(Borraccino et. al., 2008)
Can actually increase
likelihood of drug use
u Programs that focus on the
psychological causes of drug use
(eg., low self-esteem) (Davis, et.
al., 2010)
u Early intervention without
suitable reinforcement in upper
grades
u

Some Places To Start:

SAMHSAs National Registry of Evidence-

based Programs and Practices

http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/AdvancedSearch.aspx

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
website of evidence-based programs

DRUG ABUSE
PREVENTION
IN SCHOOLS

http://www.drugabuse.gov/Prevention/examples.html

Explicit drug prevention

messages to non-users (eg., how
to resist drug offers.) (Hansen, 2010)

A call for evidence-based

program implementation in
elementary schools

DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION

IN SCHOOLS
Christy Norment
2012
James Madison University

Young Kids Are Using

There is now abundant evidence to
suggest that kids are already beginning to
experiment with alcohol and other
substances by the time they are 12 or
13. (Hecht, Hopfer & Ringwalt, 2010,
p.2)
Experimenting with substances may
become more appealing during 5th and
6th grade because of emotional,
psychological, and physical changes.
(Davis, Elek, Hecht, Hopfer & Kam, 2010)
Many 5th graders report that they plan to
consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes
during adolescence and adulthood. (Davis
et. al., 2010)
Preadolescents are more receptive to
prevention programs since substance use
is not regularly reinforced in their
environments yet. (Davis et. al., 2010)
In a large, national survey, kids in 5th and
6th grade were found to double their
annual use of alcohol. (Hecht, et. al.,
2010)

Prevention Starts Too Late

People who start using substances at a

younger age are at an increased risk for:

Future dependency

Damaged brain development

Traumatic injury

Depression

Anxiety

Violent behavior

Truancy

Risky sexual activity

Unplanned pregnancy

STDs

Reduced academic performance

Stunted social maturation(Davis, et. al.,

2010) (Hecht, et. al., 2010)

So, What Works?

Socio-emotional approaches that

focus on students character.
(Hecht, et. al, 2010)

Focus on creating negative

attitudes about drug use while
emphasizing the rarity and
unacceptability of drug use.
(Hansen, 2010)

Teaching life skills, such as:

Nevertheless, school-based
substance use prevention
programs primarily target

Avoiding peer pressure

middle school or high school

Better decision making

students. (Davis, et. al., 2010) (Hecht, et. al., 2010)

Peer pressure resistance

(Davis, et. al., 2010) (Hansen, 2010)
((Borraccino, Faggiano, Lemma, Versino, Vigna-

Taglianti & Zambon, 2008)

Interactive techniques
like role-playing.
(Hansen, 2010)