COMPUTER-INTEGRATED DRUG PREVENTION - A NEW APPROACH TO TEACH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC 5TH AND 6TH GRADE ISRAELI CHILDREN TO SAY NO TO DRUGS

Drug prevention education provides an important first line of defense against future drug use. Many drug prevention strategies have been dev eloped which teach youngsters of all ages how to say no to drugs. Neve rtheless, the problem of drug use and abuse continues to escalate, and younger children, particularly those under-going harsh psychosocial s tress (e.g., hunger, lack of housing, broken homes, family unemploymen t, etc.), are increasingly becoming a population at-risk. In this pape r, the authors describe an original drug prevention program that was d eveloped in Israel aimed at teaching resiliency skills to 5th and 6th grade children growing up in a poverty stricken, urban community. The program, drawing on social learning theory, utilizes an attractive, ca rtoon illustrated, computer program combined with games, role-playing and group work techniques to prevent future drug use in preadolescent children.