PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

RECOMMENDATIONS
THE RECOMMENDATION: THE RECOMMENDATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE: EXAMPLE:
APPROACHES
Mentoring
Mentors and youth need help
in becoming acquainted before
matching.
Recognition should be given to
mentors.
Mentors should be screened
carefully.
Ongoing support must be provided
to mentor/youth pairs.
Psychosocial work
The effect of educational and
therapeutic work on children
will depend on the complementary
work carried out with
their parents.
Children with emotional and
social problems need
therapy/solutions at a level
which exceeds the schools'
capacity to deal with them.
Information and awareness
Public perceptions regarding
drug addiction need to be
changed.
Peer education
Peer-based interventions,
where workers take responsibility
for their own safety and
that of their fellow workers,
are more effective than an
educational approach.
Targeting high risk groups
Focusing on high-risk
individuals and their integration
into society is an important
approach.
Enhancing economic
opportunities
By equipping street youth with
technical and vocational skills,
their access to employment
and income is increased.
Economic structures of a
community must be improved
hand-in-hand with demand
reduction activities.
Acquainting before matching reduces the
chances of the relationship failing.
Mentor recognition is an important strategy for
keeping people in the programme.
This ensures the selection of the best and most
appropriate mentors - those who can be
entrusted with the care and safety of young
people.
When a problem arises that is not addressed,
especially if this occurs early on, the relationship
can easily disintegrate, and participants may
become discouraged.
The ‘dual’ approach where both children and
parents are targeted, reinforces the child’s
progress as the behaviour patterns encouraged
in the centres can be reinforced at home. The
approach also focuses on keeping children in
their own families, and avoids sending them to
foster families or children’s homes.
High-risk individuals need to be approached in
and out of the school setting, and require
stronger case management and increased social
and psychological attention from caretakers in a
safe environment.
Drug control advocacy should include efforts to
influence public perception of drug addiction
beyond the simple message of "Don't take
drugs."
Work-based programmes developed by workers
for workers, and implemented by peers rather
than management personnel, take into account
individual needs whilst addressing issues
concerning safe work practices and a safe work
environment.
To facilitate the integration of those children
at high risk, prevention work should focus on
those in close social proximity to the child,
including the family, teachers and peers.
Street youth often have little access to mainstream
facilities, and therefore need special support in
such areas as education and health care.
Poor public services and a lack of employment
opportunities within a community are part of
the reason for individuals resorting to drug
abuse, trafficking or related crime.
USA
USA
USA
USA
Poland
Poland
Caribbean
Australia
Poland
India
Caribbean
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