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

education, targeting high-risk groups, enhancing economic opportunities, gender
sensitive approaches, programmes in the workplace or correctional system, and viewing
prevention as a child's right are all potential strategies to address the drug abuse problem.
● Training: Sufficient training should be provided for those who implement the
programme to use materials, to provide participants with the skills they need to carry
out the programme, and to promote commitment.
● Sustainability of the programme: This can be enhanced through: capacity building
of existing organisations; through target group involvement and Government support;
and secured funding.
● Networking: Creating a network between NGOs minimises competition and the
duplication of efforts, enhances the pooling of resources and allows support between
NGOs and the sharing of information.
The resulting recommendations given in this report are based on the lessons that have
been learned from planning, managing and implementing the projects highlighted in
the case studies. The policy recommendations provide a sound basis for further policy
planning and development in the field of drug abuse prevention. They are summarised
as follows:
● More research into the prevalence and social dimensions of drug abuse needs to be
commissioned to enable funds to be directed where they are most needed.
● To ensure continuity, and to achieve the desired objectives, appropriate and relevant
legislation should be adopted.
● Policy makers should invest in the provision of information about and training in
evaluation methods, and appropriate tools, in order to disseminate evaluation principles
and practice throughout a country.
● When possible, agencies directly or indirectly involved with the drug problem should
engage in multi-sectoral and inter-institutional collaboration to pool resources and
develop a common strategy.
● Governments should promote the decentralisation of drug abuse prevention, and
should strengthen the technical capacity of Municipalities and local authorities to tackle
the drug abuse problem. Appropriate levels of funding and support should be made
available to those non-government organisations who are better placed to implement
policy through practice.
● Local and national experts, and the target groups, should be consulted and involved
in any planning and decision-making processes relevant to policy and the development
of programmes and projects.
● A range of programmes, consisting of universal, selective and indicative components,
need to be developed in order to serve the needs of different target groups, depending
on the nature and extent of the drug abuse problem.
● As part of the work in prevention of drug abuse, employment, recreational and
educational opportunities need to be provided to young people to increase their choices
for a healthier life style.
● Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention, and health education in general, should be part
of the national school and college curriculum.
● Individuals, as well as organisations, should be provided with relevant training in drug
abuse prevention practices, in order to enhance their capacity to deliver efficient and
effective programmes within a country.
This report was compiled by The Mentor Foundation on behalf of the UNDCP with
funds provided by the UK Government. Its work was monitored and reported to a
technical committee and steering group comprising of UNDCP and UK Government
representatives and staff from The Mentor Foundation. International technical experts
gave advice on the case studies presented.
The Mentor Foundation
‘Lessons Learned in Drug Abuse Prevention: A Global Review’
June 2002
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