Drug Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Drug Education - Essay Example Thos who had not used an illegal drug were only 15%. Effective and efficient drug education is essential because young individuals are faced with numerous influences to using both illicit and licit drugs. Drug education plays a counterbalancing role through shaping a normative culture of moderation, safety and making decisions that are informed. Schools have been helped by various departments to develop a sustainable and ongoing drug education programs and policies that are based on approach that aims at minimizing harm. The approach aims at reducing the adverse health, economic and social impacts of drugs. This is achieved through limiting or minimising the hazards and harms of using drugs for both the individual and the community without eliminating the use necessarily. Globally, it has been recognised that teachers are perfect in providing young individuals with the knowledge and skills for making sound choices and decisions on drug use. As such, there is need to adequately train teachers. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to document a comparative analysis of the following two models: Youth development and Diversionary activities and Drug use prevention through social marketing. Youth Development and Diversionary v. Drug use prevention through social marketing Under youth development and diversionary we have the positive futures. A positive future is a social inclusion national activity-based program for young individuals. The program aims at helping young people from communities that are deprived. It helps them to leave a healthy life through steering them away from alcohol and drug misuse and crime. In addition to that, the program provides young individuals with role models thus widening their horizons and providing them with access to new opportunities within an environment that is cultural familiar (Positive Futures Impact Report, 2006, p. 5). Positive future target young adults aged between ten (10yrs) and nineteen (19yrs) old. In its endeavour to en sure youths live a positive and health lives, it has partnered with organisations such as Diageo GB. This is a drinks business comprising of a collection of brands that are widely known internationally such as wine, spirits and beers. The positive future activities have managed to enrol majority of young individuals to its activities. For instance, as at September 2005, one hundred and nine thousand five hundred and forty six (109,546), young individuals had enrolled in the positive future regular activities. Moreover, young people who attended the programs of positive future were fifty seven thousand (57,000). Through attending these programs, the youths have been able to achieve a lot. For example, their behaviours, self esteem and self confidence were greatly improved. In its urge to mould the youths in the society, the positive future takes an approach that is developmental. Unlike other social policy initiatives that are sports-based, positive futures is not a sport development or diversionary program as traditionally practiced or understood. On the contrary, it uses a relationship strategy whose aim is to interact with young people in a trustful and respectful manner. In that case, young individuals are able to interact with positive role model who guides them on the right path rather than