Drug use prevention projects in schools in Vitória, Brazil: quality analysis and improvement proposals

Abstract Adolescents living in vulnerable regions are more exposed to risk factors for drug use. The prevention of such use in school is a public policy that needs evaluation. Based on technical criteria and derived from a mixed research, this article analyses the quality of school-based prevention of drug use in Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and proposes improvements. A checklist of quality elements was completed with data from 16 projects proposed by 99 teachers from public schools. In 10 projects (62.5%), the approximate quality index was above 0.50. The majority of projects fulfilled the requirement of theoretical foundation (81.25%) and some of the methodological (93.75%), design (75%) and implementation (62%) requirements. Other requirements were absent: the majority were not designed by the whole school community (87.5%), and the participation of the family (62.5%) or the students as mediators (62.5%) was not considered. In general, contents of life skills (87.5%), positive relationships and alternative activities to drug use (56.25%) were not included. Activities for reinforcing the content were not described in any of the projects, and evaluation activities were described in only a few (31.25%). Many projects did not describe the inclusion of the project in the school curriculum (62.5%). Although, considering all items of effectiveness, regardless of their weight, more than half of the projects had an above average quality. The present items provide quality to the projects, whereas absent items indicate shortcomings to be improved using some of the measures described in this study.

Esporte, lazer e prevenção ao uso drogas: dos discursos equivocados aos caminhos possíveis / Sport, leisure and drug use prevention: the misguided speeches to the possible ways

O presente artigo tem como objetivo questionar a maneira ingênua e simplista que se estabelece entre prática esportiva e prevenção ao uso de drogas. É comum a constatação de um imaginário que atribui às praticas esportivas o poder mágico de "livrar os jovens das drogas" especialmente presente nos programas sociais que têm no esporte e lazer seu instrumento de intervenção socioeducativa. Ao colocar em xeque alguns desses pressupostos do senso comum, o artigo desenvolve-se a partir da desconstrução desse imaginário, que, acompanhado de um convite à reflexão,apresentasugestões concretas de possíveis contribuições do esporte e lazer para amenizar a questão do uso de drogas. Sem a pretensão de transformar-se em receituário, destaca aspectos importantes deiniciativas já realizadas, sem deixar de ressaltar que a complexidade do tema exige sensibilidade, envolvimento e responsabilidade social.

This article aims to question the naive and simplistic association that is established between sports and drug use prevention. It is a common observation that attach to the imaginary that sports practices has the magical power to "free the youth from drugs", especially on those social programs that have sport and leisure as their instrument of socio-educational intervention. By putting into question some of the assumptions of common sense, the article develops by deconstructing this imaginary, which, with an invitation to reflection, presents real opportunities for possible contributions of sport and recreation to alleviate the issue of drug use. Without intending to turn into prescription, it will highlight important aspects of initiatives already undertaken, while mention that the complexity of the issue requires sensitivity, involvement and social responsibility.