Projects

Projects - Promising Programs: A Review of Interventions to Engage Young People and Reduce the Possibility of Participation in Risky Drug-Use

Source: Department of Health and Ageing

This research was undertaken for the Tobacco, Drug Prevention and Youth Policy Section, Department of Health and Ageing to inform the work of the Interdepartmental Government Committee on Drugs (IGCD) in its efforts to produce practical advice for drug prevention efforts in the field.

A key task of this research was to develop a set of evidence-based descriptors against which to review the programs from all states and territories, targeting key portfolio areas of mental health, school education, family and community development, health and welfare, and law enforcement (community policing). The descriptors developed provided a basis for analysis of promise and the likely effectiveness of a range of prevention and early intervention programs. Prevention efforts that were particularly relevant to this research were those that addressed the needs of young people in transitional life periods, from primary to secondary school and from secondary school to adult life.

This project encompassed:

• The development of evidence-based criteria to identify promising interventions;
• The collection of national data and identification of promising programs; and
• The production of a report describing promising interventions to assist the development of practical and grounded prevention activity that has the potential to contribute to national best practice under the National Drug Strategy Prevention Agenda.

The research was carried out by Helen Cahill, Bernadette Murphy and Alex Hughes. Their report was published by the Department of Health and Aged Care in 2006.

Contact: Helen Cahill

Contact: h.cahill@edfac.unimelb.edu.au