Stand4 - Drug and Alcohol Education Unit

Resources

The Stand4 Reference Group have provided the following papers addressing some key issues in current strategies attempting to reduce the harm and cost to society stemming from use of illicit drugs and alcohol consumption.

Positive and practical strategies to address these issues are proposed in order to bring about long term benefits for individuals and their communities.

The following files are available for download here in pdf format, and a brief summary of each article is included below. 

• Shane Varcoe - Alcohol Use and Abuse amongst Youth and Young Adults
• Bruce Tucker - Reflections on Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Programs
• Don Cameron - It's Time to Try
• AFL on Illicit Drugs Policy
• Peter Schwab - Personal reflections on Australian Rules football and alcohol consumption
• Warwick Murphy - Another Look at Harm Minimisation

Alcohol Use And Abuse Amongst Youth And Young Adults: A Synoptic Overview
by Shane Varcoe, Director, Education Services, Concern Australia
Presented At Stand 4 Reference Group Meeting, August 2008

Shane Varcoe presents evidence from five varied and credible sources which graphically present the current behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol consumption of youth and young adults. This overview raises issues about the ineffectiveness of current strategies to stem the tide of alcohol abuse sweeping over a whole young generation of Australians. 

The entrenched social and personal attitudes that engender behaviours of abuse and overuse are challenged by the STAND 4 program. A substantial educational model which can counter and potentially reverse the current trends in attitudes toward alcohol consumption and abuse are proposed.

For the complete article click here.

Reflections on D&A Prevention Programs
by Bruce Tucker (Director, Welfare Services, Concern Australia)

There are worrying trends in drug and alcohol abuse by young people, despite many years of school based and community education focused drug and alcohol prevention programs. 

How then should we present these programs if we want to make a difference?

Education focused programs are still the most favored, however research from similar programs in the 70’s and early 80’s based on  “health terrorism” – scaring young people with the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse - showed this approach was not effective in turning kids away from drugs. 

Educational and informational programs in the 80’s and 90’s took a more holistic approach incorporating strategies such as building self esteem and resistance based training.  Recent research is suggesting that the short term effectiveness of such programs in reducing or preventing drug use behaviour is small.

The paper puts forward some good reasons for why these informational based approaches have not worked.  It also explains why “affective” based programs – improving a young person’s self esteem or building their resistance to deal with peer pressure - are not as effective as one might expect.  A valuable list of eight effective ingredients of school-based drug prevention programs are listed as worthy of consideration in any future planning. 

A social norms approach which looks at drug and alcohol abuse as it is seen in connection with its social context may provide greater impact on young people.  This approach explores all the social reasons we as Australians consume alcohol (eg celebrations, commiseration, for remembering and forgetting past events).  In this context, “getting pissed” could be considered an essential rite of passage, culturally implanted in our whole concept of being Australian, mateship and being a nation!  Research by social scientists in Australia and overseas is showing that feeling pressured to conform to current behaviours and expectations of “imaginary” peers is a contributing factor to drinking high risk behaviour and drug use.

Some future strategies with strong potential to reduce and/or prevent young people’s drug and alcohol use are suggested.  Perhaps we need to challenge culture and society attitudes and behaviours even more than just the level the social norms models do.  STAND4 has a key role to play in turning around the attitudes and behaviours of our youth by challenging their personal core values and understandings.  STAND4 also challenges young people about what society or culture they want to build for their future and the way they are going to live their lives.

For the complete article click here.

 “It’s time to try”
 By Pastor Don Cameron, Cornerstone Contact Centre, Dandenong

While as a community, there have been some very strong media messages about road safety and prevention of infection from sexually transmitted diseases how much have we really done regarding warning the community of the effects of illicit drugs and the negative impacts and long term effects they can have on our health and our life style? 

Don Cameron shares his experiences in working with teenagers experimenting with drugs and with adults whose lives have been forever changed in a very negative way due to the effects of taking illicit drugs who so often say to him ‘Nobody told me this could happen’.

The time is long overdue to ‘try’ to educate people of the dangers of drug use.
It’s long overdue to put loud slogans on billboards, media outlets and everywhere we can to educate people that substance abuse is not legal, it’s not harmless, it is not normal….

For the complete article click here.

AFL and AFLPA enhance Illicit Drugs Policy.
 AFL Media release – August 2008

The AFL has adopted a series of significant improvements to its out-of-competition Illicit Drugs Policy as AFL players volunteer to step up their campaign against illicit drug use. 
This policy goes well beyond the World Anti Doping Association policy and requirements with which all sports in Australia are expected to comply. 

This article outlines the sanctions which will now apply to the first and second time a player fails an out of competition illicit drug test and lists a number of other changes to the AFL Illicit Drug Policy. 

The media release also provides data on the number of  Individual Drug Profiles which have been conducted and number of detections over each of the past 3 years (2005 – 2007). It shows that over 2000 tests undertaken, there have been 42 detections and 6 players returned second testing positive results.

For the complete article click here.

Personal reflections on Australian Rules football and alcohol consumption

By Peter Schwab, Chief Executive Officer, AFL Victoria (AFL V)

Peter Schwab takes a close look at the current situation in AFL regarding players consuming alcohol, the social factors, and impact on health and on-field performance.  He draws on his past experiences and observations as an AFL player to present a balanced view of the range of approaches and attitudes amongst players to drinking alcohol – from abstinence during the playing season to binge drinking after the weekend game.

A number of policies and positive measures being taken by AFL Victoria to address concerns over harmful effects of alcohol on the behaviours of players and spectators are outlined.

The AFL Victoria policy on alcohol management can be used as a club template and covers issues relating to serving alcohol, responsible use and safe transport.  Peter also tackles the issues of players taking illicit drugs and refers readers to a web site detailing information about the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy and the response of players and experts in the field of drug prevention.

Whilst the complexities are many, the need to seriously consider motivators and predicative issues and the real option of harm prevention should be more aggressively pursued!

For the complete article click here.