Should harm minimization, as an approach to adolescent substance use, be embraced to junior and senior high schools?

Publisher:

The International Journal of Drug Policy 16 (2005) 403-413
Accepted 1 November 2005

Availability:

English
www.sciencedirect.com

Format:

A journal based article

Audience:

Secondary school staff, community resource people considering harm reduction strategies in a school

Preparation time:

Time to read is about 30 minutes

Resources required:

Lesson plan or school health action plan

Approach:

Incorporation of idea into a comprehensive school health-based program

This article discusses a demonstration project done in Nova Scotia, which focuses on harm minimization strategies done in junior and senior school. The project provides evidence that school-based harm minimization approaches are more effective in senior schools and not as effective in junior high schools.

Application/relevance to curriculum:

Could be used for a research project in a health or marketing class.

Comments:

This journal is for those that may want to explore harm minimization strategies for school-based substance abuse. The idea suggests different target strategies for students in Grades 10-12 as compared to those in Grades 7-9.