Should Alcohol and Drug Education Be a Part of Comprehensive Prevention Policy? The Evidence from the College Campus

Abstract

Although there have been several recent reviews of the literature that are critical of alcohol and drug education as an effective means of prevention, this paper argues that a truly comprehensive prevention policy must include a continued commitment to educational efforts. Evidence is presented from the college campus to show that at the same time that alcohol-education efforts have increased, there have been significant reductions in alcohol-consumption levels and related problems. Alternative explanations for the reductions, such as the raise in the drinking age, are rejected. The author suggests that theory-based, comprehensive approaches to alcohol and drug education should be evaluated for their impact on individual student attitudes and behavior, as well as the environment in which students function.