DRUG EDUCATION NOT EFFECTIVE

THE RECOMMENDATION by two out of three members of the Standing Committee on
Health and Community Care that funding for the injecting room trial be
redirected to community drug education is an appeal to populism
("Injecting-trial funds better spent: committee", CT, March 29. p.5).

Overseas evidence shows health policies that incorporate injecting rooms
contribute to saving lives and other social and bealth benefits. On the
other hand4 we do not yet have drug education programs which show evidence
of reducing drug uptake by young people.

Take, for example, school drug education programs. In 1913, President
Nixon' s US National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommended
drug education in schools be stopped pending an analysis because the
available evidence seemed to suggest that it increased drug use, rather
than curtailed it. Or, at best, the evidence suggested it was simply a
waste of money with no determinable effect. No such analysis was ever done.

An evaluation in 1989 of the Australian Life Education program showed that
at best it had no effect on drug use but could possibly have increased drug
use. To be fair to Life Education they have revised their program. However,
there has been no follow-up evaluation published.

Drug use by young people is increasing. Effective drug education programs
have not yet been found but are desperately needed. If Messrs Rugendyke and
Hird have evidence that diverting the injecting room funds to community
drug education will be more effective they should put that evidence
forward. Then their recommendaion might be considered seriously.