Evaluation of the "Education for Life Program" in the prevention of drug use in students of Third Cycle and Baccalaureate

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the results or effects of the "Education for Life Program" in the prevention of drug use in Third Cycle and Baccalaureate students in state institutions. The research was descriptive, with a cross-sectional design in which 594 students from educational centers, who received the program and centers that did not receive it, from the city of San Salvador, El Salvador participated. The results showed that the students had received information about prevention drug use, HIV, Comprehensive Sexuality Education; as well as on Life Skills, Gender Equity, Life Project, Education in Human Rights and Culture of Peace, but no significant differences were found in the prevention of drug use such as alcohol, tobacco and marijuana between Educational Centers that received the program and centers that did not receive it. In Most of them thought that "he has learned to control himself in any circumstance, not to go to drugs, to know how to carry our problems, to know how to measure our self-esteem", "it has helped him to understand others and have confidence", "it has helped me to know myself internally, respect me and love me because nobody knows me better than me". The findings in this study suggest a systematic review of the policies and strategies of the by the Ministry of Education, for a better use of it among students of Third Cycle and Baccalaureate.