Values clarification is today widely used in drug education programs in the United States. The premise is that decisions pertaining to whether to use drugs or to abstain are a direct function of a confused value system. The purpose of values clarification is to assist individuals both to structure and operationalize a value system which is personally satisfying and socially acceptable. In an attempt to raise questions regarding its efficacy to influence drug use, criticisms will be offered on the following areas: the role of content in valuing, the position of “ethical relativism,” the danger of indoctrination, and the social pressure to conform.
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