The Nine Basic Criteria for a Drug Abuse and Dependency Education Curriculum

There is currently NO attempt within the public school system to educate children about the real drug abuse and dependency problems they will face as adults. I base this statement on the nine following criteria that I deem as basic to an effective drug abuse and dependency education curriculum:

1] Teach kids about the limitations for use of any drug – including the ones involved with over 80% of adult drug-related problems that ‘anti drug’ programs like DARE don’t even mention. In other words tell them why one should use drugs and list the benefits and costs in an honest manner.

2] Teach kids about the problems involved with over reliance and dependence on drug therapies for dealing with problems. This should include the diminishing returns of prolonged use and the effects from using drugs instead of making changes in behavior that would lead to long-term relief.

3] Teach kids that those with money and influence will deliberately lie and mislead them to get them to use – or not use – certain drugs.

4] Teach kids how to get reliable information about drugs. This should include places to investigate, people to question, how to ask relevant questions about amounts to use and manner of delivery, and other behavior they must change to effect improvement while using drug to help with problem.

5] Teach kids that the recreational use of drugs is the most optional use available, that there is nothing inherently wrong with choosing not to use in this manner, and – if they choose to use recreationally – advise them as to the problems involved and give them strategies for planning to use in a manner which severely reduces chances of harm to themselves and others.

6] Teach kids about the pressures in the adult world to use drugs both in a recreational manner to bond with business associates and clients and as a means to cope with the abuses in the workplace. The pressures to use drugs in the adult world dwarf anything that kids have faced in the kid world.

7] Teach kids to recognize personal abuse in their homes, schools, workplaces, and even in their own behaviors and develop strategies for coping and unilaterally minimizing the effects of such abuse.

8] Teach kids about the behaviors and habits they can use to develop in order to improve their physical and emotional health to avoid the drug problems that plague the adult world [those problems include the ‘2^nd drug problem of affordable prescription drugs].

9] Give them challenging questions, activities, or research to confirm – or refute – information given to them in the text of their lessons.

I believe that the last criteria should be essential for success. Any information that you give them should be able to stand up to the kind of scrutiny that the War on Drugs is never given by any of our political, religious, and social leaders and their lapdog media. The Original Drug Manual for Kids – for families that care about real drug-related problems meets all nine of these criteria. It has an introduction and six chapters – along with over 100 launchpad questions and activities that will personalize their learning experience. I even have a website for submission of additional activities and questions from readers and educators which can be found at http://www.geocities.com/rimchamp77/odm4k.html. While some people might feel offended at some of my assertions I can only plead the ninth – they will stand up to closer scrutiny.