Abstract This paper provides a model for the prevention of illegal drug use within the target community of the (fictional) town of Barrington, Delaware. The purpose of this type of program is to investigate whether drugpreventionprograms that do not utilize scare tactics can be as effective - or even more effective - than programs that do attempt to dissuade drug use through frightening the user or the community.
Abstract This paper discusses the problem of drug use in the United States among teenagers and examines various facets of preventionprograms, particularly peer preventionprograms. The paper also discusses the most effective preventative strategy, looks at the role the family plays in the problem and cites statistics concerning teenage drug abuse.
From the Paper "This paper addresses the problem of drug use among teenagers and examines the various facets of drug prevention and intervention programs. First the paper outlines the problem of drug use among teenagers. Then the paper discusses the two types of prevention programs. Next, the paper discusses various elements of peer prevention programs. Finally, the paper discusses which drug prevention strategy is most effective."
Tags: teenage drug use, peer programs, D.A.R.E, drugpreventionprograms, social environemental theory
Abstract This paper reviews the issue of substance abuse and looks at the DARE substance abuse preventionprogram. According to the paper, the DARE program's goals lie with prevention instead of rehabilitation. The main purpose of this study paper is to determine the impact and success of DARE as a substance abuse preventionprogram.
Outline:
Chapter One
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Primary Research Question
Subsidiary Research Questions
Definition of Terms
Significance of the Study
Limitations of the Study
Organization of the Study
Chapter Two
Review of Related Literature
Chapter Three
Methodology
Data Sources
Materials
Procedures
Chapter Four
Data Analysis
Chapter Five
Conclusion
From the Paper "Unfortunately, programs like DARE do not appear to be working as well as hoped for the segment of society that they generally target. For example, a report from September of 2004 indicated that there was an increase in 2002 for treatment for substance abuse in those in the 12 to 17-year-old age group (Drug, 2004). This would indicate that these individuals are not remaining drug free, or they would not need to seek the assistance of a treatment program. According to many officials in the government, that continues to show a trend that has been evolving for over a decade. Between the years of 1992 and 2002 those in the 12 to 17-year-old age bracket that were admitted to any type of treatment program for substance abuse increased approximately 50 percent (Drug, 2004). "
Abstract The paper discusses the benefits of random screening for athletes in high schools, the proven efficacy of a drug-screening program and the fact that drug testing facilitates early detection of drug abuse. The paper then focuses on the arguments against drug testing, including the privacy concern of the student, the financial cost of the tests and the loss of trust between students and teachers or parents. The paper further relates that drug testing is less effective as a deterrent compared with other interventions, it may result in false positives and may force students to take drugs that are not easy to detect but are more dangerous. The paper therefore concludes that a more promising alternative is to increase students' awareness of the dangers of drug abuse by means of after school educational programs, counseling sessions and most importantly, promoting their participation in extra-curricular activities.
Outline:
Drug Testing Benefits
Cons of Drug Testing
From the Paper "Drug use among school students is a concerning issue for everybody including the students, parents, teachers and the society at large. As per the results of the 2006 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study almost 31.5% of high school seniors reported using marijuana at least once in the last one year while 18.3% reported to have used it within the last one month. [BJS] The abuse of prescription drugs was found to be on the rise with 15.4% of high school students reporting use within the last one year. The 2007 MTF study also revealed a decline in the perceived harmfulness of using MDMA (ecstasy) among high schoolers with an increase in its use from 2.4 to 3.5 % among 10th graders and 3 to 4.5% among 12th graders. [NIDA] Even alarming is the self reported fact that 25% of high schoolers gained access to drugs within the school property. However, the perceived dangers of drug abuse have not changed much from 1987 as is evident from the MTF graph. [BJS]"
Abstract This paper examines whether the amount of money spent on drugpreventionprograms in America is too excessive, by comparing policies to other countries. It analyzes the success results of these programs, focusing on adolescent communities.
From the Paper "The war on drugs is big business in the United States, where approximately 19 billion dollars will be spent this year on drug prohibition. (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2003) That's over seventy dollars spent for each man, woman and child living in the United States. Comparatively, the total budget of Russia is less than 40 billion dollars, causing one to question whether or not drugs are a problem that merit such an expense. A comparative study on the effects of drugs in cultures outside the United States help us understand the effects of drugs on human populations, and is the initial step in determining whether or not current United States drug policies are merited. This paper will address the issue by looking at the use of federally scheduled narcotics in adolescent cultures in other countries."
Abstract This paper focuses on the crucial role that teen pregnancy preventionprograms play in adolescent sexual education. The writer of this paper, details the observations and results attained from a field placement study with the Girls Inc. Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy program. This paper, written from the writer's personal point of view, discusses the controversy surrounding the effectiveness of various programs geared towards preventing teen pregnancies. The writer examines the main goals of these programs, which provide helpful intervention in the lives of the participants, yet stresses the need for improvements. This paper delves into the effectiveness of the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Education program, which was designed specifically to address various features missing in existing preventionprograms. These programs generally supply the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to address educational and career opportunities. This paper also details the findings and results of several articles and research studies pertaining to this particular topic.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Field Placement Observations
Article Reviews
Synthesis of Article Reviews and Field Placement
New Study
Recommendations
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Overall, my experiences with my field placement agree with many of the points in Lederman and Mian's article. The Parent-Adolescent Relationship Education (PARE) curriculum in their article shares similarities with my practical experience at the Girls Inc. Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy program. For example, both programs focus strongly on the participant's social well-being, rather than simple sex education. My practical observations at the Girls Inc. Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy program validated Lederman and Mian's assertions that such social training can be effective in helping young girls. While Lederman and Mian's article validated my experiences at an academic level, it did not give me with a real understanding of the experiences of children."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of programs that are aimed at reducing crime by using early childhood crime preventionprograms. The paper reviews one of the most significant studies in recent history, the "Perry Study out of Ypsilanti, MI." According to the paper, this research exposed the very real and tangible benefits of early childhood education for poverty stricken students as an element to prevent them from becoming criminals as they got older. The paper further reports how this study proved to be the catalyst for the nationwide Head Start program and is still referred to today to obtain government funding for preschool programs.
Outline:
Introduction
The Study
Conclusion
From the Paper "There have been three major studies undertaken to test this theory with the "grandfather" of those studies being the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project. The study drew participants from African American children residing in Ypsilanti, Michigan whose parents had applied to have their children included in attendance of a program. The participants were placed into two groups, those children who would attend and those who would not attend. Random assignment and the effort to not let teachers of later schools know which of their students were in the program and out of those which had attended and which had not attended the preschool helped to protect the purity and validity of the study(Stellar, 2003). "
Abstract This paper extensively describes the various types of drug rehabilitation programs that exist today. Th author contends that recovery extends beyond the detoxification phase, and must be followed-up with responsible care. Various alternatives are presented.
Introduction
Employee Assistance Programs Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Programs Treatment Modalities
Characteristics of a Successful Treatment Program
From the Paper "Drug rehabilitation is often a long-term process with many phases and facets. The first step in the rehabilitation process is detoxification. However this is usually not enough to change set patterns of addiction which may have been established over years of abuse. "Recovery from addiction involves an extended process which usually requires the help of drug addiction professionals. " (Drug-Rehabs.Org) Rehabilitation program have to take into account a variety of factors and aspects; such as the exposure to the same environment in which the addiction first occurred and workplace issues. The following are some of the main types of rehabilitation programs and treatments in use today. "
Abstract The paper reviews three levels of juvenile delinquency prevention: the primary level of creating safe environments, the secondary level of addressing those at risk and the tertiary level of bringing youths back from the brink after they have become involved in the juvenile justice system. The paper outlines the available programs at all three levels of prevention and their possible potential for success. The paper also explains the primary causes of juvenile delinquency and possible solutions.
Outline:
Abstract
Part 1 - Delinquency Prevention Theory
Part 2 - Delinquency PreventionPrograms
From the Paper "The comprehensive approach to preventing, correcting and resolving juvenile delinquency is divided into three levels to more specifically address the complex nature of the problem. Each level corresponds to the escalating level of youth's risk of or actual involvement in illegal activities. These increasing levels of intervention are designed to address particular risks factors for the juveniles, with the ultimate goal of keeping the youth out of the criminal justice system.
"The primary prevention level addresses the root causes, conditions and environmental factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency before the youth is part of the problem. The much agreed upon approach is to assist the youth before they are involved in illegal activity. These early intervention programs can range from those that directly address the individual to information programs designed to reach the general public at large. Programs designed to meet the needs of the individual are often school based educational programs, but also can be after-school safe harbor programs. The programs fall into the categories of either educational, recreational or community involvement. The educational programs are designed to provide information for both the youths in the community and the parents. Recreational activities are designed to occupy the hours after school where many youths are unsupervised. The Department of Education reports that youths are most likely to become involved in crime between the hours of 2 pm to 8 pm, with the peak rate at 3 pm ("Juvenile Delinquency Prevention," n.d.). These recreational activities have the additional benefit of creating positive friendships that can be of assistance in later years. The programs may include sports, music, drama, karate, and other such group activities. Community involvement programs include such groups as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church youth groups and other youth volunteer groups. These types of group programs provide a much needed connection for some youths that may feel isolated, and creates ties with the community that also prevents involvement in illegal activity."
Abstract This paper stresses that violence in US schools and families is as much associated with suburban and rural schools as it is with impoverished inner-city schools. The paper then proposes a violence preventionprogram, which serves the school's entire student body, teachers, support staff, administrators and parents or caregivers because they are all affected to some degree by the incidence of violence. The paper relates the categories of violence to be addressed by the program and describes the coalition service activities. The paper concludes that the expected results are the reduction in violence and sexual abuse in schools and school-sponsored extracurricular activities and the promotion of pro-social behaviors.
Table of Contents:
Targeted Promotion and Prevention Issues
Project Vision
Population to be Served and Rationale for Selection
Scope of Preventative Efforts
Table: Six Categories of Violence to be Addressed
Coalition Service Activities
Table: Description of Coalition Service Activities
Expected Results
From the Paper "Other techniques that will be used as part of this initiative will include conflict resolution seminars wherein students will be trained in effective conflict resolution techniques, and anger management workshops where students can learn alternatives to expressing their anger other than violent behaviors. If deemed appropriate, the educator in charge of the initiative can coordinate small counseling groups as well in which students can communicate the problems they are experiencing with violence, or where students with such behavior problems can identify the potential source of these behaviors and take action to resolve them."
Abstract This paper is a proposal for a community based preventionprogram to combat the use of drugs amongst high school athletes in Boise High School, Idaho. The author includes risk factors of teenagers who might be susceptible to drug use and explains how family and community support can help deter drug use. The paper maps out and explains the program proposal, the target group and how the program is to be administered. The author also includes an estimation of costs.
Outline:
Risks
Protective Factors
Strategy
Institute of Medicine
Best Practice Program Estimated Cost
From the Paper "Risk factors include: a difficult home life, where there is for example constant discord between parents, or between the parents and children; parents and family members who use drugs; friends who use drugs; and the availability of drugs. Other risk factors could include individual emotional problems such as depression and a feeling of unworthiness, as well as less than average school performance. These factors are mitigated by perceived talents in sports, and hence the drive to perform better. This drive further strengthens the propensity towards using drugs."
This paper reviews an article that evaluates the success of a peer-oriented drug and alcohol abuse preventionprogram at a major U.S. transportation company.
Abstract This paper reviews an article describing an in-house drug testing and rehabilitation plan in a US transportation company. The paper favorably describes the peer-based counseling that employees receive if they have drug problems. Also outlined are the benefits of this company's program. The programs is suggested as a prototype for other organizations.
From the Paper "Ultimately, it is the cooperation between corporate management, union management and employees that makes PeerCare a seemingly successful program. It seems from the article, that the researchers expect to find positive results from this study because PeerCare has been in use for a significant amount of time and seems to work. At the end of the article, the authors suggest the larger implications of PeerCare and similar programs for Managed Health Care and Behavioral Health Services. The authors assume that it is a successful program and hope to use it as a model for other organizations."
Abstract This paper examines the high cost to employers of employee workplace substance abuse. The author points out the need for effective substance abuse preventionprograms and challenges such programs present. The paper evaluates the effectiveness of drug testing as a policy.
From the Paper "Due to absenteeism, accidents, medical-liability and healthcare expenditures, substance-abusing employees cost employers more than ... billion annually Obviously, substance-abusing employees represent a major problem.
Tags:drug testing, drug-free workplace, employees, employers, ACLU, privacy, substance abuse, health care, public policy
Abstract The paper explains that the general purpose of Community Action Agencies and the Community Action Programs (CAPs) is to help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency; most provide emergency food assistance and basic care. The paper relates that some branches also have drug awareness programs, frequently targeted towards young people. The paper discusses how CAPs can provide useful community support regarding education and counseling for individuals with potential substance abuse issues or issues regarding AIDS and HIV.
Outline:
Brief History of CAPs
Function of CAPs
Relationships Between CAPs and Substance Abuse in the Community
Relationship Between CAPs and HIV/AIDS
Conclusion
From the Paper "According to the Community Action Partnership (CAP) of America, an umbrella organization designed to publicize and support Community Action Agencies around the country, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) were established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson to help fight America's War on Poverty. These organizations strive to serve their communities through direct advocacy on behalf of local, low-income residents and through the operation of an "integrated and comprehensive set of antipoverty projects." ("Community Action Agencies and Local Youth: Building a Future Together" 2003, Community Action Partnership (CAP))"
Abstract This paper explains that the Toronto drug treatment court (DTC), a diversion program, has been a response to a Canadian normative criminal justice system that does not approach the underlying problem of addiction. The author points out that diversion programs, such as DTCs, are ways to interrupt the continuum of incarceration now associated with offenses created by the drug culture. The paper relates that the conventional criminal justice system offers little or nothing to counteract addiction beyond a possible referral to a treatment center, which usually brings no results. The author underscored that the Toronto DTC has a 4% recidivism rate as compared to a 45% recidivism rate of persons charged with drug-related offenses who do not pursue treatment diversion. The paper states that the cost-benefit analysis underscores the savings to the taxpayer.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Toronto Drug Treatment Court
Suitable Offenders
Making an Honest Effort
The Rights of the Offender
Benefits
Challenges to Expanding Drug Diversion Programs Concluding Remarks
From the Paper "The Toronto Drug Treatment Court is located in the Old City Hall complex as is thought to be Canada's busiest court house, a place to be experienced for its many mainly poor Canadians to appear, its old fashioned premises and the main venue of the city's Aboriginal Diversion (Gladue) Court. On two visits to Drug Treatment Court, it was observed that the atmosphere is civil and collaborative. Judges spoke in a direct humane manner to offenders unlike what was observed in other criminal court settings. Support workers from agencies and volunteer groups, including former graduates of the Court, were present."
