Grade 9 Drug Education Programme

For Cleveland District State High School

By Alison Clark

Illicit Drug Use in Australia

13.4% of the Australian Population had used at least one illicit drug in 2007.

Illicit drug use on the decrease since 2004 survey.

Marijuana - most commonly used illicit drug.

General population believe heroin is associated with having a drug problem.

14-19 year olds believe marijuana is associated with having a drug problem.

(AIHW 2008)

Drug Use In Queensland

'Despite the widely held perception that drug related problems are mainly caused by the use of illicit drugs, tobacco and alcohol are responsible for the most harm associated with drugs in our community' (Queensland Government 2006, p. 4).

Health Promotion In Schools

Source: Australian Government Department Education, Science & Training 2006, p. 3

Harm Minimisation

Does not condone drug use. Includes abstinence as a strategy.

(Australian Government 2006)

Should be main goal of programme.

(McBride et 2003)

School Drug Education

F our Key Themes

Comprehensive and evidence-based practice.

Positive school climate and relationships.

Targeted to needs and context.

Effective pedagogy.

(Australian Government 2004)

PRINCIPLES OF DRUG ED Principle 1: Base drug education on sound theory and current research and use evaluation to inform decisions.

Principle 2: Embed drug education within a comprehensive whole school approach to promoting health and wellbeing.

Principle 3: Establish drug education outcomes that are appropriate to the school context and contribute to the overall goal of minimising drug-related harm.

Principle 4: Promote a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment as part of seeking to prevent or reduce drug-related harm.

Principle 5: Promote collaborative relationships between students, staff, families and the broader community in the planning and implementation of school drug education.

Principle 6: Provide culturally appropriate, targeted and responsive drug education that addresses local needs, values and priorities.

(Australian Government 2004)

(Australian Government 2004)

PRINCIPLES OF DRUG ED Principle 6: Provide culturally appropriate, targeted and responsive drug education that addresses local needs, values and priorities.

Principle 7: Acknowledge that a range of risk and protective factors impact on health and education outcomes, and influence choices about drug use.

Principle 8: Use consistent policy and practice to inform and manage responses to drug-related incidents and risks.

Principle 9: Locate programs within a curriculum framework, thus providing timely, developmentally appropriate and ongoing drug education.

Principle 10: Ensure that teachers are resourced and supported in their central role in delivering drug education programs.

Principle 11: Use student-centred, interactive strategies to develop students’ knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.

Principle 12: Provide accurate information and meaningful learning activities that dispel myths about drug use and focus on real life contexts and challenges.

(Australian Government 2004)

(Australian Government 2004)

School Based Interventions

Source: Soole, Mazerolle & Rombouts 2005, p.28

Target AudienceGrade 9 students

Why this Target Audience

Most at risk for drug experimentation.

Drug abuse not yet occurred.

( Soole, Mazerolle & Rombouts 2005)

Current Programme

Recreational Drugs HPE Programme

Duration: 10 weeks

35 minutes per lesson

School Priorities;

ICT:Use of computers during unit to research medical information and background on recreational drugs

Assessment- will require students to use a range of ICT’S to generate a research report.

Literacy: Students involved with spelling, reading, writing and comprehending information related to recreational drugs.

Numeracy: Students will be involved with interpreting numerical statistics and graphs.

(Cleveland District SHS n.d.)

Challenges

HPE a low priority in schools.

Time constraints.

Perception that drug education not necessary.

Effort required to introduce changes.

Resistance to change.

My Role

Assess current programme using the following indicators;

12 principles of school drug education.

Evidence based recommendations.

Community survey.

Interviews with educators and stakeholders.

Community Survey

Design a questionnaire for students and parents to access on the internet.

Students to be given computer access in class time to complete questionnaire.

Parents to access from home.

Anonymous.

Software programme collates and produces graphs, charts etc for analysis.

Evaluation

My role is to evaluate the classroom education programme,

The school environment,

Access to support for those who need it.

References

Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training 2004, Overview & summary of the principles for school drug education, viewed 2 May 2011, http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/drugstrategy/files/links/PrincSchoolDrugEd_Brochure.pdf

Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training 2006, 'In Tune, Students participating in drug education', viewed 2 May 2011, http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/stratman/Policy/schoolgov/druged/InTuneResourceALL.pdf

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2008, 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: detailed findings. Drug statistics series no. 22. Cat. no. PHE 107, viewed 20 May 2011, www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468195.

Cleveland District State High School n.d., 'Year 9 HPE Recreational Drugs', HPE & Sport Development Faculty.

McBride, N 2003., 'A systematic review of school drug education', Health Education Research Theory and Practice, vol 18, (6), pp. 729-742.

Queensland Government 2006, Queensland Drug Strategy 2006- 2010, viewed 5 May 2011, www.health.qld.gov.au/atod/documents/31976.pdf.

Soole, D Mazerolle, L & Rombouts, S 2005, 'Monograph 07 – school based drug education: a systematic review of the effectiveness on illicit drug use', viewed 20 May 2011, med.unsw.edu.au/dpmpweb.nsf/...Monographs2/.../DPMP+MONO+7.pdf