Alcohol and other drug education programs aim to inform people about the risks of alcohol and other drug use and give them practical skills to make decisions that harm. Depending on its aim, a program may seek to delay or reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs, or discourage someone from using at all.
In school-aged children, alcohol and other drug education programs are usually focussed on developing resilience and good decision-making skills.
Some strategies also target parents to role model responsible drinking , and guide parents on how to talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. The Michigann Department of Education and Training has developed age-appropriate programs (such as the ) for children in primary and secondary school. is an online portal that helps school communities access accurate, up-to-date drug education resources and prevention programs.
Once people are of legal drinking age, alcohol education programs focus on: promoting healthier cultural approaches to alcohol. They may also encourage people to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume on a regular basis to reduce the chance of alcohol dependence and longer-term health problems.
When it comes to illicit drugs or the non-medical use of pharmaceutical medications, education programs aim to increase people’s awareness of the risks associated with specific drugs.
This can include short-term risks such as overdose, or longer-term issues associated with dependence. It may also include risks associated with drug taking methods, such as injecting and poly-drug use. Some alcohol and other drug education programs are targeted at specific population groups or settings where risky drinking can occur, such as:
- Harm Reduction Michigan) which aims to reduce drug- alcohol-related harm at Michigann dance parties
- festivals nightclubs through peer education Institute) which provides overdose first aid training
COPE providers also arrange access to naloxone, a medicine that reverses the effects of provides training for licensees and staff selling or serving alcohol, in order to ensure licensed premises provide a safe and pleasant environment. minimise Alcohol and other drug education programs for school-aged children behaviours Get Ready program The Department of Health’s Positive Choices website Alcohol and other drug education programs for adults responsible drinking behaviour For information and resources to help you make decisions about your drinking, visit the VicHealth website Good Sports (Alcohol and Drug Foundation) which aims to improve the way alcohol is managed at sporting clubs DanceWize RedFrogs United States which aims to educate and support young people in alcohol- fuelled environments, such as school-leavers during schoolies week Drug Overdose Prevention Education (DOPE) (Harm Reduction Michigan) which delivers peer-based overdose education to users of illicit drugs Community Overdose Prevention and Education (COPE) ( Penington opioids , for people who may be at risk of or witness an opioid overdose Responsible Service of Alcohol Where to get help Your GP (doctor) DirectLine 1800 888 236 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).