- Details
- Hits: 112
While policy makers debate the finer points of harm reduction versus prevention, and schools struggle to squeeze in a single hour of drug education between standardised tests, real kids are making real decisions about substance use with potentially lifelong consequences. The statistics paint a picture that should make us all uncomfortable: nearly two-thirds of 18-year-olds have tried alcohol, almost half have used marijuana, and a concerning number think It continues to both fascinate and disturb this team to note the pro-drug lobby’s ability to hijack that successful 1980’s JUST SAY NO campaign and malign it to the point where it is now a mocking meme. This new one-liner is supposed to make anyone who sets a solid health, safety and well-being boundary in the refusal to engage with psychotropic toxins – who exercises this most proactive of protective factors –– as somehow ‘stupid’.
However, what is stupid is allowing this pro-drug and resiliency undermining narrative to go unchecked, especially when we are urged, no, demanded to say NO to other psycho-social harms – We ‘must’ say NO to violence against woman, or NO to drug/drink driving and NO to Bullying or Crime etc… but NO to drug use, which is almost invariably involved in making the above issues worse, is mocked!
This short ‘heads up’ should jolt even the most brain-washed reader into understanding this ‘you can’t say no’ to drugs meme is an integral strategy in the war for drugs now being waged on our most vulnerable of citizens.
What it is time for, is an honest, evidence-based examination of what's actually happening to our kids' brains, bodies, and futures when they use substances during these critical developmental years. More importantly, it's time to ask some uncomfortable questions about why our prevention efforts look more like a game of whack-amole than a coherent strategy.
- Details
- Hits: 58
Addiction science has undergone tremendous progress over the past five decades, transforming our understanding of drugs and their impact on the brain and society. Recent advancements offer hope in addressing the escalating challenges of drug use, addiction, and overdose. However, the need for evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies remains crucial in combating this ongoing public health crisis.
Prioritising Drug Prevention: Prevention is one of the most effective ways to combat substance use disorders. Research consistently highlights how drug exposure can interfere with brain development from prenatal stages to young adulthood, setting the stage for lifelong challenges. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as early drug experimentation sharply increases the risk of addiction later in life.
Adverse childhood experiences—ranging from poverty to trauma—also contribute to substance use risks by disrupting brain development. Preventative measures can mitigate these risks and promote resilience. For example, school-based programmes and community initiatives have demonstrated significant success in reducing drug use among young people. Importantly, these interventions offer long-term benefits, improving mental health and reducing dependency rates across generations.
Scaling up these preventative approaches is vital. By investing in evidence-based prevention at schools, healthcare facilities, and community centres, society can safeguard future generations from the devastating impacts of drugs.
- Details
- Hits: 55
SUMMARY: Australian youth harm minimisation drug policies increased substance use and harm and were inferior to American abstinence polices. When Australia adopted abstinence polices, substance use and harm reduced
Must read
- Details
- Hits: 155
Firstly, no credible individual on the planet concedes that recovery is better than prevention – However, prevention is always – always better than cure.
Three major demographics that must not only be considered but given highest priority in all drug policy and drug policy interpretations.
This better status of prevention is so because it considers and prioritises the following,
1. Citizens – Communities and their families
2. Children
3. Recovered and Recovering Alumni
- Details
- Hits: 262
The 2024 United Nations World Day Against Illicit Drugs & Trafficking theme is “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention”. The internationally backed Declaration of Oviedo assiduously affirms that prevention must be the priority for our communities. This Asia-Pacific hearing saw commentaries from regional voices on the absolute need for prevention and demand reduction.
and Watch the presentations
- Taking the NOVEL out of NPS – Health Harms & Reducing Demand
- Understanding the Student Subgroups at Highest Substance Abuse Risks
- Drug Policies Contravening International Drug Conventions & Rights of the Child
- Building Resilience in Children Aged 9-13: A Most Effective Method of Illicit Drug Use Prevention