Efficacy of a peer interactive youth-led drug prevention programme: a UYDEL-UNODC project

Abstract

Correction: Due to an error in the online publication of this journal, the publication date of this issue was recorded as 2014. The publication date was corrected to 2015 on 3 rd September 2015. The date on the cover is correct. While most substance abuse programmes rely more on non-interactive de­livery interventions to help the youth, youth-led involvement in substance abuse prevention has been found to be more effective. The delivery of the non-interactive programmes contains several weaknesses, such as passivity of youth participants. Teachers sometimes may be unaccountable in passing over information or may assume the youth already know. Youth-led interactive programmes have a high rate of authority and significantly register less drunkenness and lower alcohol use among peer-led groups. In screening and selecting, peers look or those who are helpful, trustworthy, concerned and those who are good listeners. A key conclusion is that these programmes need to be supported, monitored and sometimes supplemented by other intervention models so as not to under-rate or over-emphasise and assume that “one size fits all”. International Journal of Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders 2015;1(3-4):69-78