Education on drugs and alcohol: past disappointments and future challenges

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, so in future health education should be conducted with far more awareness of its practical limitations and possible dangers.

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.