Why Worry if the Whole Game is Up? Perspectives on Drug Education

Abstract

A survey of drug education programs indicates that many of them have severe shortcomings. Twelve suggestions are given for improving these programs: student participation, effective use of school personnel, avoiding inconsistent presentations, differentiating experimental from illicit use of LSD-type drugs when discussing the dangers, avoiding an appeal to fear or guilt, facilitating communication, keeping faith with the students, encouraging dissenting students to work within the legal structure to change the marijuana laws, respecting experiential reports, avoiding hypocrisy, organizing scientific or therapeutic research programs, and paying attention to the larger social context.