Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank:
The same prevention programme can affect both sexual and substance use risks
Different youth 'problem' behaviours overlap and share common causes, so it should make sense to implement programmes which affect several at once. That was the thesis of this Scottish review, which looked at studies reporting on both substance use and risky and underage sex. The literature was scarce but did give some reasons for optimism.
More support for harm reduction education on drinking
Alcohol outcomes from an Australian secondary school harm reduction curriculum covering legal and illegal drugs strengthened the case that such education can not only curb harms, but also reduce consumption. Results suggest this approach might offer a more fruitful focus for education about commonly used substances than simply promoting non-use.
Add brief advice to discipline for heavy drinking college students
Is being caught and disciplined all it takes to get heavy drinkers who violate university drinking rules to cut back? According to this US study, the discipline process does work, but adding brief motivational-style advice makes a worthwhile extra impact.
Should we teach teenagers to drink more safely?
Official guidance for England supports 'safer drinking' lessons for teenagers, based partly on the results of an Australian curriculum, but it was unclear whether its approach and results would transfer to the UK. Now this study from Northern Ireland has confirmed that in the UK too the lessons curb the growth in alcohol-related problems and also mean pupils drink less.
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