Developing a drug awareness program in an international school. Cross-cultural issues

Area of Science:

• Health Education
• International Health
• Substance Use Prevention

Background:

• Designed for an international school in Bandung, Indonesia, serving 220 students from 26 countries.
• The program was the first of its kind in the local international community, necessitating initial stakeholder buy-in.
• No prior school or government anti-drug initiatives existed to support drug prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a comprehensive drug awareness program for students from kindergarten through high school.
• To address the unique needs of an international student population regarding substance use prevention.
• To integrate evidence-based strategies and consider local risk and protective factors.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to guide intervention strategies.
• Collection of data on risk and protective factors relevant to the international community.
• Application of existing drug use prevention models.
• Focus on peer, school, and community influences on adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.

Main Results:

• The program was developed based on identified risk and protective factors and existing prevention models.
• Drug use was conceptualized as a deficit in coping or self-regulation skills.
• The curriculum emphasized the interconnectedness of peer, school, and community factors in adolescent substance use.

Conclusions:

• Successful design and implementation of a pioneering drug awareness program in an international school setting.
• Highlighting the importance of addressing coping skills and environmental factors in substance use prevention.
• Establishing a foundation for future drug prevention initiatives within the international school community.