The Major Focuses of Narconon Drug Education During New School Year

Prevention is a Major Part of the Solution to the Drug Problem

Current estimates hold that more than 20 million people in the United States are living with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. To put that figure in perspective, it amounts to more than the entire population of New York state. Unfortunately, only slightly more than 10% of those who meet the criteria for substance abuse disorder or addiction receive the treatment they need. Instead, they continue to live lives plagued by drugs, always looking for the next fix rather than pursuing their dreams and goals. As though the current situation wasn’t already bad enough, it is steadily getting worse. Approximately 7,000 young people start drinking alcohol every day, and another 5,000 begin using drugs. In the face of such staggering statistics, it can clearly be seen that even the most effective drug rehab program is no match for the constantly increasing number of substance abusers and addicts. Drug rehab is a costly proposition, both in terms of resources and time. No matter how diligently those in the field of addiction treatment may work, they cannot hope to keep up with the ever-increasing numbers of addicts. Narconon recognizes this fact, and they are taking effective steps to correct the situation.

The Narconon drug rehab program was originally developed more than 50 years ago, and it has since expanded to dozens of rehab centers and prevention organizations on six continents around the world. Drug prevention education is one of the major activities in which Narconon staff and volunteers engage in the United States and globally. They do this in many ways, such as through public service announcements and passing out anti-drug booklets on the street. A major aspect of the drug prevention campaign is the Narconon drug education curriculum, which has been delivered to hundreds of thousands of elementary, middle- and high-school aged children over the years. There are many classes and curricula which caution young people against the dangers of drugs—what sets the Narconon education program apart? The major difference lies in the approach taken. Whereas most other programs attempt to instill a fear of drugs or take an authoritarian stance on the issue, the Narconon drug education program seeks to provide students with the facts about the subject so that they can make their own informed decision. By reaching students at an early age, before most of them have tried drugs or developed a substance abuse problem, Narconon strives to reduce the rates of drug abuse and addiction.

About the Narconon Drug Prevention Education Curriculum

In some areas, the Narconon drug prevention education is presented in person by drug education specialists. Many of these individuals work at local Narconon drug rehab treatment centers and who travel to schools throughout the region as part of a community outreach program. In this way, Narconon centers actively work to reduce the number of people who may end up needing their services in the future, an example of just how sincerely dedicated they are to the fight against drugs. In other areas, teachers use the Narconon educator’s kit, which consists of videos covering six sessions of live presentations on topics including marijuana and ecstasy, two of the most popular drugs among young people, details on how drugs affect the body, and information to use in making the decision whether or not to use drugs. The videos are accompanied by lesson plans and worksheets that serve to engage students and get them to think with the material. Young people who have been presented the facts about drugs are far less likely to become addicts or even to begin using drugs in the first place. Rather than simply being told not to use drugs or being warned that they are dangerous, students who receive the Narconon prevention education walk away with an understanding of exactly what makes drugs dangerous and what risks they incur by using them.

Perhaps the greatest reason why the Narconon curriculum works is that it is delivered with information that students can relate to and that connects with them. As the new school year begins, more students will be receiving the benefit of the Narconon drug education program, and a large percentage of them will learn to make the right decision about using drugs whereas they might otherwise have taken the wrong turn towards a life of addiction.