Keep Kids Off Drugs
Video
Prevention is Critical
Exposure to and initiation of substance use typically occurs in adolescence. A significant proportion of substance use problems (including the development of abuse and dependence) begin in adolescence and extend into adulthood costing millions in drug related law enforcement, crimes, rehabilitation and loss of productivity.
Childhood and adolescence are times of dynamic change and development psychologically and physically. It is very profitable to influence these more malleable developmental processes before they become entrenched and more resistant to intervention.
Students in primary education (K-12) along with education professionals and parents represent a significant percentage of society. Estimates indicate that prevention undertaken in the public schools would affect approximately 45% of the general population, greatly extending its prevention education into society as a whole.
Prevention in Schools
Studies in the last decade clearly indicates that substance abuse is caused by the complex interaction of a number of different etiologic issues including knowledge, attitudes, social, personality, pharmacological, biological, and developmental factors.
Despite the fact that etiologic research shows that substance abuse is the result of a vast array of socioeconomic factors, traditional approaches to prevention have been focused on providing students with factual information about various drugs and their pharmacologic effects, methods of drug use, and the adverse consequences of using drugs. The traditional approach to prevention has had very limited success and judging from increased drug use among school age students it has been a total failure. In some cases the traditional approach has even stimulated participation in drug use by educating students about drugs!
Substance abuse is both a health problem and a barrier to educational achievement. Clearly, health promotion in general and substance abuse prevention in particular are not only appropriate activities for the school setting, but are vitally important to the healthy physical, emotional, and educational development of our youth.
Mission Generation program has been very successful in prevention education and why so many nation have invited them into their schools.
Keeping Kids in School
Children in school are much less likely to fall victim to substance abuse or the resulting behavioral patterns including gang participation. A solid prevention program keeps children in school. Research also indicates that the longer children stay in the school the less likely they will ever be involved in illegal activities or drugs. Mission Generation motivates children to stay in school by giving them purpose and direction in through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Goal
The Goal of prevention is to intervene by developing individuals before they begin using and developing problems with alcohol and drugs, thus necessitating an emphasis on children and youth.
Distinctive Impact
PTA meetings have turned into churches. Children have retuning to church with new found love and families have come back together after testimonies from their children.
Success
High school graduates have the lowest per capita rate of drug use among their peers. Schools using Mission Generation's program provide students with health education.