NCJ Number
150028
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1994) Pages: 46-54
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The developmental status of a child or adolescent should be a crucial factor considered in designing and conducting drug prevention programs.
Abstract
Traditionally, education in the United States has viewed children as miniature adults, who learn in the same way that adults do. Recently developmentalists and educators have begun to criticize the resulting quantitative approach to education and have focused on the need for qualitative approaches. Instead of presenting a single drug prevention message such as Just Say No to all grade levels, drug prevention educators should adapt the content and delivery to the child's developmental stage. The prevention techniques used for early childhood (ages 4 to 6), middle childhood (ages 6 to 10), and adolescence should match the developmental characteristics of the particular age group. Thus, if prevention specialists are to increase their effectiveness, they must retain an adult understanding of the problem of alcohol and other drug use while being willing to let the child lead the way when it comes to designing the message. Chart and 12 messages