Harm reduction in Maltese post-secondary schools

Abstract

Harm reduction's challenge is not to eliminate drugs from around us; rather the objective is to learn to live with drugs in such a way that they cause the least possible harm. This project will analyse the concept of harm reduction and will attempt to highlight the knowledge of the students in three post-secondary schools. This dissertation will finally argue that in respect to the current situations in the Maltese post-secondary schools, "harm reduction strategies" should be introduced. This research will be based on readings found from books, journals and websites concerning "harm reduction" as a concept and its implementation in post-secondary schools as conducted abroad, where these strategies have been pioneered. The research will then proceed to the discussion of the results of the survey carried out in three Maltese post-secondary schools. A sample of 171 students, 63 in Technical Institute, 48 in The Institute of Art and Design and 60 in the Junior College were given a questionnaire in which they expressed their knowledge concerning "harm reduction". It was found that the level of knowledge of the adolescents who constituted the sample is very low, making "harm reduction" programmes more feasible in the current Maltese situation.