Alternatives to drug use: an alternative approach to drug education

The Alcohol and Drug Education Course, a secondary prevention program for drug-abusing adolescents, was evaluated. The program provided some drug information, but primarily emphasized alternatives to drug and alcohol use for achieving altered states of consciousness. Students were found to be relatively knowledgeable about the effects of drugs, but were also misinformed on some issues. The program was successful in increasing the students' awareness of alternatives to drug use and the hazards of drug abuse, and in decreasing their reported reliance on drugs for achievement of altered states of consciousness.