ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS QUESTIONED

Researcher: 'Harm Reduction' Not Working At Junior High Level

A controversial new approach to drug education that encourages teens
who choose to use drugs to avoid unnecessary risks is appropriate for
older teens but goes over the heads of junior high school students, a
Dalhousie University researcher has found.

The results of a four-year study of so-called "harm reduction" drug
education by Dr. Christiane Poulin, holder of the Canada Research
Chair in population health and addictions at Dal's medical school,
were published in the International Journal of Drug Policy last week.

Many jurisdictions around the world are considering changing the way
they try to teach young people about substance abuse, Dr. Poulin said Tuesday.

"Everybody is thinking about doing this, but there is still a great
lack of evidence about whether or not it's safe, whether or not harm
reduction will cause harm," she said. "In the past, the idea has been
generally to try to get kids to not use drugs. In this case, we were
concerned that the proportion of teenagers using was high enough that
maybe we should be using another method."

She described harm reduction as an approach that says if you can't
prevent substance abuse you should at least be able to prevent the
problems and risks surrounding it, like excessive use and driving
under the influence.

Dr. Poulin's study, only the second in the world to focus on harm
reduction, began in 1998. That year, 38 per cent of Nova Scotians
aged 11 to 19 reported having used marijuana at least once in the
past year, compared to 17 per cent in 1991.

The study involved students, parents, teachers, officials from
regional school boards and addiction services and Health Department
staff at five junior and senior high schools around Nova Scotia.

The groups met several times to discuss issues related to drugs
including alcohol, tobacco, prescription medication and illicit
substances and to develop their own drug education activities.

Dr. Poulin said the materials produced differed widely from one
school to another. One senior high school group, for instance, made a
video about using marijuana and driving.

The study found the older students were adept at identifying ways
people using drugs could save themselves from additional harm by
setting limits on their use, not using drugs in certain situations
and not driving while intoxicated or high.

"With junior high school students, their only solution was always
'Don't use,' " Dr. Poulin said. "We realized they simply did not have
the maturity and the development to handle the complex
decision-making that is required by harm reduction."

Younger teens may even misconstrue harm reduction education as
permission to use drugs, she said.

Dr. Poulin said at this point, it would be best to teach teens aged
11 to 15 just to stay away from these drugs while looking for more
effective methods.

"We should be encouraged by the fact that tobacco programs have
worked for younger teens - fewer teens even experiment with tobacco," she said.

Based on her research, Dr. Poulin said, health and education
officials should proceed with developing a harm reduction program
specifically targeting senior high students.

Nova Scotia Health Promotion contributed about $250,000 toward the research.

Health Promotion staff who took part in the study weren't available
Tuesday, but spokeswoman Susan MacLeod said the agency will draw on
Dr. Poulin's work.

"We support the conclusions of the research and we will be using them
when we . . . develop new curriculum," she said.

Ms. MacLeod said officials are working on new drug education programs
intended to be ready for the start of the 2006-07 school year.