Prescription for Drug Abuse Education Managing the Mood Changers

Abstract

This article emphasizes the need to prepare youth to make decisions about drug use. To do this it is essential to eliminate hypocrisy about the use of marijuana, to “infuse” the curriculum with drug information and to provide students with realistic learning experiences. It focuses on such things as the way teachers have been charged with the responsibility to teach about drugs without adequate preparation. The author provides the reader with some practical suggestions and solutions to the dilemma. He presents factual background information about the nature of marijuana, the scope of the problem, and the need for immediate action regarding relevant educational programs. The key areas discussed are: 1) understanding the problem, 2) scope of the problem, 3) the need for drug education, 4) education of professional personnel, and 5) alternatives to drug abuse.