NCJ Number
132122
Journal
Drug Education Journal of Australia Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 233-239
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The characteristics of adolescent egocentric thinking and other associated developmental changes such as identity formation and the need to develop a sense of autonomy are examined in the context of the appropriate timing, evaluation, and development of drug education programs.
Abstract
Many adolescent characteristics predispose the adolescent towards drug and alcohol use. The increased risk or propensity towards drug use occurs primarily in relation to heightened susceptibility to peer pressure, yet it may serve to undo earlier drug prevention programming. Drug education needs to occur before drug use occurs and its evaluation must occur in early, middle, and late adolescence rather than immediately following an early drug education program. Drug educators must adopt an adequate level of evaluation methodology that follows children into adolescence, such as a longitudinal comparison of experimental and control groups or any claims of success in terms of reducing substance abuse must be considered as unproven. Drug education also needs to continue in adolescent years when the full expression of adolescent egocentrism and social development occurs. 26 references (Author abstract modified)