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Education on drugs and alcohol: Past disappointments and future challenges

Bagnall, Gellisse; Plant, Martin A.; Bagnall, G. M.; Plant, Martin

Authors

Gellisse Bagnall

Martin A. Plant

G. M. Bagnall

Martin Plant



Abstract

A review is presented of the effectiveness of alcohol and drug education. It is concluded that, contrary to popular belief, there is little evidence that such education is 'effective' in curbing 'problematic' or illegal behaviour and that in some contexts health education may be counterproductive. Psychoactive drug use is influenced by many factors which are unlikely to be countered by health education. Public Health promotion campaigns are often directed by political pressures rather than by epidemiology. It is concluded that in future health education should be conducted with far more awareness of its practical limitations and possible dangers and that major public initiatives should be objectively evaluated. © 1988 IRL Press Ltd.

Citation

Plant, M. A., Bagnall, G., Bagnall, G. M., & Plant, M. (1987). Education on drugs and alcohol: Past disappointments and future challenges. Health Education Research, 2(4), 417-422. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/2.4.417

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 1987
Journal Health Education Research
Print ISSN 0268-1153
Publisher Oxford University Press (OUP)
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Volume 2
Issue 4
Pages 417-422
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/her/2.4.417
Keywords education, drugs, alcohol
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1112639
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/her/2.4.417


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