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Survival against drugs: education for school-age children
Linda Finke1, Judy Williams, Maroline Ritter
1Professional Development Services, Sigma Theta Tau International, Indianapolis, USA. lfinke@iupui.edu
Problem:
Alcohol and drug use of young school-age children continue to escalate. Comprehensive, effective interventions are needed to treat and prevent future alcohol and drug use.
Methods:
The alcohol and drug use of 69 school-age children participating in afterschool programs was explored; parents completed a family climate scale. An investigator-developed educational program was evaluated for its effect on self-efficacy of the children to prevent drug and alcohol use.
Findings:
Although family climate scales indicated functioning families, 25% of the children indicated they have used drugs or alcohol and 49% indicated a possible problem with alcohol or drugs being used at home by parents. A significant correlation with a child's self-efficacy and drug use was found.
Conclusions:
The educational program taught children survival skills to resist the use of alcohol and drugs. Children with a plan to resist the use of drugs were more likely not to use drugs.