Pubdate: Mon, 03 Apr 2000
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Author: B. McConnell

DRUG EDUCATION NOT EFFECTIVE

THE RECOMMENDATION by two out of three members of the Standing Committee on 
Health and Community Care that funding for the injecting room trial be 
redirected to community drug education is an appeal to populism 
("Injecting-trial funds better spent: committee", CT, March 29. p.5).

Overseas evidence shows health policies that incorporate injecting rooms 
contribute to saving lives and other social and bealth benefits. On the 
other hand4 we do not yet have drug education programs which show evidence 
of reducing drug uptake by young people.

Take, for example, school drug education programs. In 1913, President 
Nixon' s US National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommended 
drug education in schools be stopped pending an analysis because the 
available evidence seemed to suggest that it increased drug use, rather 
than curtailed it. Or, at best, the evidence suggested it was simply a 
waste of money with no determinable effect. No such analysis was ever done.

An evaluation in 1989 of the Australian Life Education program showed that 
at best it had no effect on drug use but could possibly have increased drug 
use. To be fair to Life Education they have revised their program. However, 
there has been no follow-up evaluation published.

Drug use by young people is increasing. Effective drug education programs 
have not yet been found but are desperately needed. If Messrs Rugendyke and 
Hird have evidence that diverting the injecting room funds to community 
drug education will be more effective they should put that evidence 
forward. Then their recommendaion might be considered seriously.
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