Drug education in the former Soviet Union: parallels and populism

Abstract

Russian interest in drug education and prevention programmes for schools is a response to growing official awareness of substance misuse. Official voices tend to make a distinction between alcohol and other substances, although recent moves have been made to increase the price of alcohol. Moralising and authoritarian attitudes persist, with a reliance on the ‘medical model’ of health education. Practitioners are increasingly aware of and interested in evidence‐based approaches, including interactive methodologies in the classroom. The implications for professional training are responded to by the inclusion of teacher training materials in many school programmes in Russia. At the primary prevention level, there are many parallels with UK practice. In my experience, additional similarities are in the differences of awareness and understanding between practitioners and decision‐makers, with the latter not always fully aware of the needs and situations of young people in both countries. The major difference is in official Russian attitude and practice towards illegal drug users. Whereas UK practice is pragmatic and concentrates on getting individuals into treatment, in Russia there is demonisation and marginalisation of illegal drug users; a national ban on substitute prescription; and a widespread local ban on needle exchanges. The primary prevention interest in evidence‐based practice does not extend to treatment.

Citation

Stothard, B. (2010), "Drug education in the former Soviet Union: parallels and populism", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 38-41. https://doi.org/10.5042/daat.2010.0257