Preventing Substance Use Problems Among Young People - A Compendium of Best Practices

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Section 5 - Exemplary Canadian Programs

This section presents descriptions of 39 Canadian programs, including eight serving injection drug using (IDU) youth. Among the programs serving IDU youth are treatment programs that are presented in this compendium because they are engaged in the prevention of harmful effects associated with injection drug use. Programs in this section were identified through the following process:

• invited nominations from provincial/territorial government addiction agencies and Health Canada regional representatives;
• filled in gaps with nominations from key informants across Canada, programs known by team and steering committee members, and, in the case of IDU programs, an Internet search;
• developed a questionnaire/template that was sent to a total of 150 programs;
• conducted a first screen on the basis of a mix of considerations (i.e., availability of evaluation report, evidence of sustainability, degree of innovation, the extent to which prevention principles are reflected, and geographic and cultural representation);
• made personal contact with persons associated with youth treatment and general IDU programs to determine the extent to which they work with IDU youth;
• due to lack of available documentation, collected required information from screened-in IDU programs by interview; and
• developed descriptions of 39 programs based on information provided by questionnaire and interview, and forwarded to program sponsors asking for confirmation of information and elaboration in several areas;
• entered information into a fully searchable database.

Headings have been omitted in cases where no information pertaining to the heading was obtained. While outcome evaluations are very rare among Canadian substance use problem prevention programs, many of the programs described in this section have conducted process evaluations. Information concerning these evaluations may be obtained through the identified contact person.

Making Decisions: Grade 6 and Grade 7

Target Population:

Grade 6 and 7 students.

Setting:

School.

Youth Involvement in Program Development or Delivery:

They participated in field-testing of the lessons, offering their feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Youth Needs Addressed:

Provide opportunities for youth to interact, explore and dialogue on issues related to substance use. Promote, in the classroom, opportunities to learn and practice decision-making, communication and refusal skills.

Interventions Used:

Formal instruction/training; Informal learning; Parents awareness/education; Web site.

Intended Outcomes:

Prevent onset/experimentation; Adoption of healthy recreational alternatives; Improved personal and social skills; More accurate understanding of prevalence of drug use; Improved relationship with parents; Improved awareness of services/help.

Program Description:

Both Grade 6 and 7 programs are designed to promote decision-making skills and support the prevention of substance abuse. Activities focus on role-playing, writing, interaction and discussion. Each lesson includes an overview, learning outcomes, vocabulary, learning activities, summary, enrichment and evaluation. Includes reproducible student sheets and parent handouts. Lessons are designed to be taught sequentially - Grade 7 program builds on Grade 6 program.

Contact Time:

Grade 6 students - 8 lessons approximately 1 hour each; Grade 7 students - 7 lessons approximately 1 hour each.

Agencies Involved in Program Delivery:

Classroom Teachers, Nurses, Police, School Counsellors, BC Ministry of Education, Teachers Associations and other Health Education Groups, BC Ministry of Education lists the program as part of Recommended Grade Collection.

Program Costs:

Grade 6 and 7 manuals (both include student sheets) are $24.95 each plus postage and handling (bulk discount is available). Optional teacher training session - $400/group plus travel/accommodation expenses for presenters.

Prevention Principles Most Reflected:

Strive for accountability; Understand and involve young people; Create an effective process.

Year Program Established:

This version of the program since 1999; original version since 1983.

Contact:

• Mr. Art Steinmann
  Alcohol - Drug Education Service
  2730 Commercial Drive, Suite 212
  Vancouver, BC
  V5N 5P4
  Tel: (604) 874-3466
  Fax: (604) 874-0903
  Email: artades@direct.ca
  Web site: http://www.ad-prev.com