Explores some of the explanations for drug use and abuse including environmental influences, models and the influence of family, society and peers, personal criteria, and drugs themselves. Discusses what schools have done and should do in each area. (JAC)

Describes the development and pilot testing of a marihauna education program for grades 7-10. The five-lesson program included a health belief model and a legal deterrance model. Results of the pilot test showed the health program had the greatest impact. (JAC)

Examines results of health education surveys over four testing periods (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983) for approximately 10,000 Canadian students in grades seven, nine, 11, and 13. Results showed students' knowledge scores on drugs were lower than any other health issue, although they were receiving some drug education each year in school. (BH)

Exposed students (N=2,319) in grades 7-10 to drug use study results showing use of cannabis (marijuana) as uncommon among peer group. Measured influence of new data on perceptions and how changed perceptions might affect cannabis use. Found changing perceptions was difficult. Found student perceptions of drug use bore no relationship to personal…

Teaching students decision-making skills is integral to many drug education programs. Conducted series of studies examining elementary and secondary school students' attitudes toward making decisions. Found different age groups perceived making decisions differently. Suggests practitioners need to take maturational levels into consideration when…

Examined relationship between cannabis education and use in over 4,000 secondary school students. Seventh graders who reported receiving more cannabis education were more likely to also report having used cannabis. The relationship between cannabis education and cannabis use was not statistically significant for grades 9, 11, or 13, but the trend…

Conducted large-scale cannabis educational project involving 1,237 elementary and 1,022 secondary school students to examine effects of peer and parent influence on a young person's drug use. Findings suggest that parents rather than peers will be the determining factor in a child's decision to use drugs. (NB)

Results from two large repeated surveys of Canadian students, sampled from grades 7-13 indicated that little time is allocated to drug education. The most common focus is on alcohol. Most drug education is through the medium of teacher-led classes. Discusses implications for more effective drug education. (Author/RC)

Information about drugs is a basic component of any drug education program. This information must be perceived as credible and trustworthy by the target audience. Results of 16 studies indicate that friends, mass media, and professionals rank highly for most of the population as credible, trusted sources of information. (Author)

A great many films have been made that deal with all aspects of drugs, their use and abuse. Some of these films are directed at young people within the school setting and are intended as part of drug education. Some insights as to what is happening in this specific area are discussed. (Author)

Examines children's posters about alcohol and its effect, to gain insight into children's attitudes and values to alcohol. Results focus upon themes and age and sex differences. Implications for alcohol education programs are given. (Author/BL)

Discusses a new alcohol education program offered to all the school boards in Ontario, Canada. Describes what initially seemed to be a simple process that became a series of barriers to overcome. Includes recommendations for future projects. (Author)

Notes that, although many convicted drinking driver programs use knowledge acquisition as their main objective, many convicted drinking drivers already have great deal of knowledge about effects of alcohol. Describes level of knowledge of 100 convicted drinking drivers and gives recommendations for more relevant programs and programs that have a…