Should Alcohol and Drug Education Be a Part of Comprehensive Prevention Policy? The Evidence from the College Campus

• Author: Gerardo M. Gonzalez
• DOI: 10.1177/002204268801800304
• Published date: 01 July 1988
• Date: 01 July 1988
• Subject Matter: Article

The Journal of Drug Issues, 18(3),355-365, 1988

SHOULD ALCOHOL AND DRUG EDUCATION BE A

PART OF COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION POLICY?

THE EVIDENCE FROM THE COLLEGE CAMPUS

Gerardo M. Gonzalez

Although there have been several recent reviews

of

the literature that are critical

of

alcohol and drug

education as an effective means of prevention, this

paper argues that a truly comprehensive prevention

policy must include a continued commitment to

educational efforts. Evidence is presented from the

college campus to show that at the same time that

alcohol-education efforts have increased, there have

been significant reductions in alcohol-consumption

levels

and

related problems. Alternative explana-

tions for the reductions, such as the raise in the

drinking age, are rejected. The author suggests that

theory-based, comprehensive approaches to alcohol

and drug education should be evaluated for their

impact on individual student attitudes and behavior,

as well as the environment in which students

function.

Introduction

There are a number of recent reviews of

the

literature

that

have been critical of

alcohol and drugeducation as an effective means of prevention of alcohol

and

drug-related problems (Braueht, G. and Braucht, B., 1984; Moskowitz, 1986).The

Sixth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol

and

Health (NIAAA1987:6)

states ':.\lthough educational programs in schools have increased alcohol and drug

knOWledge,

few have been effective in preventing alcohol abuse or delaying

experimentation with alcohol by young children and adolescents." Such comments

have encouraged some people to totally disregard education as a viable interven-

tion strategy for the prevention of alcohol abuse. For example, in reviewing the

document entitled 1bward a National Plan to Combat Alcohol Abuse

and

~erard~

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32601. Paper presented at

~

e .NatlOnal Conference of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Addressing the Human, Social, and Economic Costs to the

atlOn,Washington, D.C. November 11-13, 1987.

<0

Journal ofDrug Issues, Inc. 0022-0426/88/03/355-365 $1.00

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