The Basics of Substance Abuse Prevention

A proposal for categories/items for setting up an inventory on prevention activities

Dr. Jens Kalke

Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (ISD)

Aims of the Presentation

to give an overview of the main criteria & items in practice & research (in Germany)

to prepare the inventory of prevention projects in Serbia

Target Groups (1)

• universal (general population)

• selective (risk groups)

• indicated (risk consumers)

Target Groups (2)

• children• pupils• young people• adults• teachers• …

Aims of Projects

• to transfer knowledge

• to promote life skills

• to influence attitudes

• to change or to stabilize behaviour

Aim: Behaviour (1)

to prevent… • early onset• more consumption• dangerous substance use• chronic heavy use• addiction• …

Aim: Behaviour (2)

to strengthen… • abstinence

• controlled use

• learning to say no

• tactics to handle risk behaviour

• …

Aim: Behaviour (3)

to promote… • decision making/problem solving

• creative/critical thinking

• ability to communicate

• self-awareness

• coping with emotions/stress

Settings

• kindergarten

• school

• family

• leisure

• work

• community

Substances

• alcohol• nicotine• cannabis• „party-drugs“• cocaine• heroine• …• (gambling)

Methods & Means

• flyer, brochure• campaign• exhibits• video, movie• interactive exercises (roleplay etc.)• training• peer to peer education• adventure oriented alternatives• …

Prevention Approaches (I)

• behavioral prevention =

person centered

• environmental prevention =

policy and regulations

Prevention Approaches (II)

• current scientific knowlegde: → a policy-mix of behavioral & environmental prevention shows the best effects

• for example: nicotine prevention in germany (schoolbased prevention, campaigns, bans in school & restaurants, high tax)

behavioral environmental universal selective indicated

school-program X X X

information (flyer, internet) X X X X

training for staff X X

campaign X X

self-exclusion option X X

self-test X X

hotline X X

technical limitations X X X

restrictions game-supply X X

restrictions advertisement X X

bans for youth X X

checking age X X

Policy-Mix of Enviromental- & Behavioral-Prevention in the field of gambling

Dimension of the Evaluation

• structure

• process

• outcome

Kind of Evaluator

• external

• internal

Focus of the Evaluation

• reach

• acceptance

• knowledge

• attitude

• behavior

Tools for Monitoring Prevention in Germany

Dr. Jens Kalke

Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (ISD)

Tools in Germany

• dot.sys = monitoring system for activities & measures

• prevnet = database for projects

→ both are internet-based

dot.sys (Monitoring System)

cooperation project between the Federal Centre of Health Education and the federal states (16)

objectives: annual reports of substance abuse prevention analysis of the prevention structure & measures interpretation & discussion about nationwide standards

implementation and workflow: data entry by qualified staff of drug prevention services from all

states data collection is coordinated by BZgA and regional coordinators data analysis: central and federal level since 2006 in all federal states

dot.sys (screenshot entry)

Criteria dot.sys

for every measure/activity…• setting• kind of substance• approach• aim• target group• methods/means• duration• status of evaluation• …

dot.sys-Report 2009

• 472 prevention workers• 388 prevention centers• 34,031 measures

• 52% school-based• 47% substance-specific• 54% target group: age 14-17• 31% evaluated (internal)

prevnet (project database)

cooperation project between the Federal Centre of Health Education and the federal states

objectives: open access for projects, papers, documentations, studies more transparent information improving net-working

implementation and workflow: more than 1,000 members (experts & prevention workers) data collection is coordinated by BZgA and regional coordinator since 2004

prevnet (screenshot entry)

Criteria prevnet

for every project…

• setting

• kind of substance

• approach

• aim

• target group