There is currently no standard for drug education of any kind – for children, teenagers, college students, adults, or families. But we can draw from many different aspects of research around what has failed, what has worked, and what shows promise.

Just Say No to Just Say No

It has become widely accepted in the health and education field that “just saying no” is no way to approach drug, or sex, education. It is unrealistic, demeaning, not helpful, and a waste of resources to stick to this model.

The research has shown that D.A.R.E. (drug abuse resistance education) fails at its core mission: to prevent drug use. Some studies have shown it may have increased use of alcohol and tobacco use, while other studies have sought to prove that the disconnect from the messaging and the reality of drug use caused an increase in “hard” drug use.

• “It turns out that approaches involving social interaction work better than the ones emphasizing education. That finding may explain why the most popular prevention program has been found to be ineffective—and may even heighten the use of some substances among teens.”
• “by emphasizing the hazards of severe drug abuse, D.A.R.E. may inadvertently convey the impression that alcohol and tobacco are innocuous by comparison” (Project DARE: No Effects at 10-Year Follow-Up)

Similarly, studies on abstinence only approaches to sex education have been proven to be ineffective, and potentially lead to an increase in unwanted teenage pregnancy rates and STIs.

• “These data show clearly that abstinence-only education as a state policy is ineffective in preventing teenage pregnancy and may actually be contributing to the high teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S.” (Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.)

The implications of this stigmatized, shame focused education curriculum on drugs and sex – two very normal things for young folks to experiment in – are seen in other aspects of educational achievement

• “It is essential not only to better understand drug education and zero tolerance policies together, but
  also beyond their own traditional and limited context(s), to the conditions of achievement” (The Social Psychology of Disintegrative Shaming in Education)

The Times, They are Changing

With countries around the world and some states in the U.S. decriminalizing and legalizing many drugs, attitudes about drug use are changing in society. Social workers and mental health practitioners are some of the many people who advocate for therapeutic use of drugs like marijuana, psilocybin, and even MDMA, and that’s not to even mention the various SSRIs and beta blockers (legal drugs) that have proven life saving for many people.

• “The combination of psychotherapy and pharmacology as is presented in drug-assisted psychotherapy models seems to be a valuable approach in treating both depression and PTSD, especially in those who have not responded to available treatments.” (Psilocybin and MDMA for the Treatment of Trauma-Related Psychopathology)

It is imperative to keep in mind that when we talk about destigmatization, decriminalization, legalization, and even drug positive education, it is a small part of a reparations work that seeks to right the wrongs caused by prohibition of drugs for decades – and that the folks who faced the brunt of harsh anti-drug policies were often poor people of color. Legalization must be connected to liberation.

• “Prohibition was a failed policy, and it is good that it has been abandoned. However, the plight of the individuals and communities who were the casualties of that failed policy should not also be abandoned.” (Where Is the Fairness in Canadian Cannabis Legalization? Lessons to Be Learned from the American Experience)

 

Reducing Harm and Promoting Pleasure

Although there is no current “drug positive” educational curriculum, we can learn and incorporate a lot of strengths from harm reduction initiatives and sex positive educational resources.

• “The specific hypothesis is that while the intervention students may not be any less likely to take up use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs they will be more likely to consume in a less risky manner and experience less harms associated with use.”
• “The program also does not simply rely on the traditional measures of effectiveness, namely abstinence or reduced use. Harms associated with use are also measured as valid indicators of program effect. This will provide a broader understanding of what benefits can be achieved by school drug education.” (Drug Education in Victorian Schools (DEVS): The Study Protocol for a Harm Reduction Focused School Drug Education Trial)

A similar area where we have seen education shift is in sexuality education- with a move toward sex positive and pleasure focused education. This not only reduces harm by teaching consent and the complicated issues surrounding sex and relationships, but seeks to teach about the positive experiences of having sex.

• “Responses indicated that women observed increases in their knowledge and awareness about the topics presented, valued learning from other women in a safe space, and noted changes in their behavior related to areas such as sexual communication, self-blame, and assertiveness.” (A Pilot Test of the Effectiveness of an Integrated Sex Positive Education Program)

Young people not only deserve better, more honest education, but they active seek it out, online and from trusted friends and family

• “Pleasure-focused content is 1.5 times more popular than sex education-focused content across all platforms. Young people purposefully search for sexual health information online.”
• “This research provides empirical evidence to support the notion that young people are actively looking for sexual health information that covers the full scope of sexual experience and pleasure, including – but not limited to – the reduction of health risks” (Good Sex Matters: Pleasure as a Driver of Online Sex Education for Young People)