Researching the prevention of drug abuse
The results of a research evaluation on the primary prevention of drug abuse, carried out within the framework of the COST initiative for European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research, have recently been published. The project, which brought together over 20 experts in the field, was divided into three distinct sub-projects. These are dealt with in separate chapters in the report and cover the following: - An introduction to the evaluation of drug prevention throughout Europe and an overview of country reports; - Evaluations of various established substance use prevention programmes and implications for illicit drugs (literature review); - Theoretical exercise evaluating the definitions, concepts and problems related to primary prevention in the field of illicit drugs. In addition, the report present case studies of drug prevention programmes, including the Belgian QUEST programme and "Mia's Diary", a Scandinavian school-based drug education programme. Three examples of original country reports from Poland, Greece and France are also provided in an appendix to the report.