The Process of Prevention

Since the 1920’s books have been published that show the diffusion of innovative change – almost 3,000 studies have been published that look at how communities  change.  As  a  result  of  this research we now know that change is very predictable – and there are six stages.  (Figure 1 ).   A classic example of this process is the situation in the USA with smoking (later replicated in Britain where we would appear to be between stages 4 and 5).

To be successful it is essential to go through all stages – research suggests that for an individual to change from level 3 to 5 takes about 8 years – culturally for society it will take longer. To succeed everyone has to be working together – and success can be measured over time with the numbers seen to be changing.

Currently those promoting illegal drugs have also been working to this model. They have, with the help of the media, been working at changing attitudes and awareness of drugs (level 1) They  have also been disseminating their own version of the ‘facts’ about drugs: ‘cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and nicotine’… ‘ it is normal for all young people to use drugs’…  ‘we are all drug users, if we take aspirin or coffee etc…’(which is Level 2 argument). The result is we now have a substantial minority of the population actively considering using drugs (which is Level  3).

The NDPA has an enormous task ahead to use the process of prevention and turn around the problem of youth drug use.  Our website will help us in this task  by creating more awareness of the need for  effective prevention, the successes  of good practice in prevention internationally, (level 1) and in disseminating up to date and accurate information at levels 3 & 4. Our communities do not have unlimited years to begin good local programmes; the problems are with us now.  We hope you will share with us any information you have about good prevention programmes – we will do our best to include this in our future issues.