Drug Education: What it is and Isn't

Abstract

Drug education is a term that has many meanings. It is important that the drug educator assess his own values regarding drug use in our society, then share them freely. His values, however, should not dictate or completely overshadow rationality and honesty. Youth particularly need to know where the educator stands. To think that one can develop drug education programs that are value-free is naive. The drug educator's values, coupled with some operational assumptions, will provide the basis and direction of drug education.

Drug education content must include the physiological, pharmacological, psychological, legal, moral, spiritual, and political implications of drug use in our society. This content must be presented in a way that utilizes peer values and settings. The use of ex-drug abusers should be approached rationally and humanly.

Drug educators aren't going to make any difference at all, in terms of preventing drug abuse, until they view their role as being that of a “change agent.”