The Knowledge of Drugs and How that Knowledge Improves after Current Drug Education Curriculum in an 8- to 11-year old Population

Class of 2010 AbstractOBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of a current elementary school drug education program, Too Good for Drugs, on children’s views about drugs. METHODS: This was a descriptive, prospective study using pre- and post-test methodology. Participants were given a survey prior to the initiation of a drug education program, Too Good for Drugs. One month after the completion of the drug education program the same survey was given to the participants to see if their views and overall knowledge had changed. RESULTS: The overall knowledge of the groups increased from baseline (p=0.004). Participants in the fourth-grade group had a greater difference in drug knowledge from baseline than fifth-graders (p=0.008 vs. 0.01, respectively). The fourth-grade cohort had increased healthy attitudes about alcohol (p=0.007). Both groups had healthier views on marijuana (4th p=0.007 5th p=0.03) post- intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The Too Good for Drugs curriculum is effective at improving the views about drugs among the participants. Views on alcohol and marijuana improved. Participants in the program may be better served if there were an over-the-counter and prescription drug component.This item is part of the Pharmacy Student Research Projects collection, made available by the College of Pharmacy and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact Jennifer Martin, Librarian and Clinical Instructor, Pharmacy Practice and Science, jenmartin@email.arizona.edu