A drug prevention programme for primary school children

Abstract

In view of this study's purpose, unequivocally denoted by the dissertation's title, the first two chapters present a systematic appraisal of the key theoretical parameters. After probing the phenomenon of drug addiction, first intrinsically and then in its contours within the local milieu, the actual role played by Maltese anti-drug organisations is analysed and pertinent comments and recommendations are formulated. A review of the chief foreign and of all local drug prevention techniques applied in the primary school sector follows, leading to a comparative overall evaluation and to relevant suggestions. The results of the survey carried out in all primary schools in Gozo, critically presented in Chapter 3, provide the last premise before reaching the main goal of the entire dissertation. The last chapter, in fact, materialises the practical outcome of what can be hitherto evinced. Thus, in the light of the local situation, a 7-year drug prevention programme is devised for classes from Kindergarten up to Year 6, with a particular attention to Years 4 to 6, to which a resource pack is addressed, comprising a set of lesson plans and of corresponding worksheets to be handed out to students.