Drug Reduction Strategies: A Review of International Evidence for ECOWAS Drug Reduction Initiative

Abstract

In the light of ECOWAS Drug Reduction Initiative, this study examined some international drug prevention programmes such as; the Project Charlie, NEWADAM, NE Choices; and the Peer Educator models with the view to looking at what works; and how ECOWAS could mainstream and domesticate those models to sustain effectiveness in the ECOWAS Drug Reduction Initiative. The paper also looked at how contentious drug policy might impact upon the sustainability of drug prevention strategies. This study suggested approaches/models to drug prevention such as: the involvement of parents, school teachers, youth workers and the community for sustainable drug prevention strategies in the ECOWAS community. A broad range of activities and initiatives together constitute drug prevention strategies. A comprehensive and inter-collegiate drug prevention strategy that would include, educating and monitoring of the youths, parents, drug dealers, youth workers, teachers, and the local community is therefore very imperative and should be sustained for a long period of time, coupled with rigorous monitoring and evaluation if ECOWAS Drug Reduction Initiative must succeed.