Narconon Drug Education Program
Narconon Drug Prevention
The level of drug use and abuse is higher today than it ever has been in history. There are more people incarcerated in prison at this time, due to drug related crimes and drug possession, than ever have been before. One of the ways to address this growing epidemic is to rehabilitate those individuals that are addicted to drugs. There is another way that we must use to address this problem as well. It is in the form of prevention. As the old saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This has never been truer than in regards to the drug problem that we face today. So many crimes and heartbreak could be prevented if addiction did not exist. One of the most effective ways to prevent drug use is to educate our youth to the actual risks of using drugs and alcohol.
Narconon Drug Prevention
Narconon has one of the most unique and effective drug education programs to date. It is different than any other program in the fact that it educates kids, as well as adults, as to what the actual dangers that drugs pose to a persons body, mind and over all well being. Narconon doesn’t use dramatic scare tactics because it doesn’t have to and those don’t usually work anyway. The actual consequences from drug use, if explained accurately and effectively, are usually enough to deter intelligent children, as well as adults from using drugs. Narconon’s goals that are obtained through drug education are as follows:
- Creating a firm decision in potential users to not use drugs
- Convince current users to stop using
- Give firm reinforcement to those that have already decided they are against drug use
Narconon did a study of questionnaires filled out by students to come up with the most successful methods to fully obtain these results.
Narconon usually presents this information to students in school in ages ranging from 6th to 12th grade. They present the kids with information that can be easily demonstrated in real life and that the kids can relate to. Instructors are trained in making the information readily understood and accepted as the truth by the audience. The instructor presents the information in a factual way and encourages the audience to come to their own conclusions. A decision that is made by someone because they feel it is the best decision to make is always stronger than a decision made by someone who is forced to, or under duress. After the facts are presented, the instructor also gives the audience solutions and tools to use in real social life situations where the person might otherwise feel forced into using drugs.
Drug Education Methods of Approach
Narconon educators and instructors came up with this method after studying how and why other educational programs failed. The first method that most drug educations programs used were “scare tactics” where instructors attempted to scare youth away from using drugs. These did not usually work and in some ways even perpetuated drug use because information was found to be inaccurate and discredited the whole endeavor. This next approach that was tried was the harm reduction method. The apathetic basis for this approach was that people are going to use drugs and the only thing that can be done is to teach them ways to do them that will be safe for the user. This was easily seen to be the disaster it was and there came the need for a new approach. Narconon was happy to oblige in coming up with this method. As stated above, it was figured out that if a person is presented with facts of how drugs negatively impact and individuals mind, body, life, family, social network, and finances they will make the rational decision not to use them. The Narconon drug education program was created on this basis.
The program presents simple facts pertaining to the consequences that drugs create on the mental and physical well-being. These facts are delivered in a way that is hands on and interactive for the audience with plenty of real life examples. In addition to using true facts, instructors also use humor to help the kids relate to information that they are trying to convey. It is proven that the more humor used in the presentations the better the results. A direct correlation was found between level of humor used and the children’s perceived danger of drugs. Though the message is most certainly a serious one, it is found it leaves a deeper mark on a child’s mind if presented in a humorous tone. The reason for this probably is because kids will actually take someone more seriously and respect them more if they have the ability to make them and their peers laugh. It brings the person more to the level of the child, therefore making communication with them easier and more influential.
The Reasons People Use Drugs
In addition to covering the dangers of drugs, the program also covers the reasons people start using drugs in the first place. Teens often start using drugs from boredom, low self-esteem, and an inability to communicate with others. The ways to counteract these difficulties is addressed through setting goals for the future. When kids are able to work toward obtaining goals, their self-esteem is increased making communication easier, while also giving them productive activities to participate in during their free time. The feeling of being “high” is also accurately represented as being temporary and dangerous and is compared to naturally feeling happy and good about ones self which is more permanent but must be earned.
Narconon’s drug education program is very positive and successful. It relates to kids on their level with information that they can easily understand and in a way that is easily acceptable. It is helpful for any child and even adult that has the opportunity to be exposed to it. Please go to Narconon Drug Education if you would life more information on this Narconon program and to find out where it is available in your area.