1. Effective Prevention of Drug Use in Schools – The Lions Quest Experience Matthew Kiefer Manager, Lions Quest Programs

2. Lions Quest: Three Guiding Principles for International Implementation Characteristics of Best-Practice Programs 1.Sound theoretical base 2.Proven results in both controlled and “real world” conditions 3.Adapted for local cultural conditions

3. What is Lions Quest? Lions Quest is: A Multi-component… Comprehensive… Positive Youth Development program… Based in Social Emotional Learning

4. What is Social Emotional Learning?

5. How does SEL impact prevention? From NIDA’s “Lessons from Prevention Research”: Principle 7: Prevention programs for elementary school children should target improving academic and social- emotional learning to address risk factors for drug abuse, such as early aggression, academic failure, and school dropout.

6. How does SEL impact prevention? From NIDA’s “Lessons from Prevention Research”: Principle 8: Prevention programs for middle or junior high and high school students should increase academic and social competence and skill-building

7. The Lions Quest Approach Lions Quest addresses several key elements: Establishing positive norms and personal commitments Addressing risk and social behaviors Building social competencies and resistance skills Recognizing the impact of drug use Bonding with peers and caring adults

8. How does Lions Quest incorporate prevention best practices? Sequential, universal K-12 curriculumInteractive, student-centered instructional designPositive classroom and school climateParent and community supportService-learning and engagement opportunitiesHome-school-community partnerships

9. What’s Actually In the Curriculum? Unit 1: A Positive Learning Community Unit 2: Personal Development Unit 3: Social Development Unit 4: Health and Prevention Unit 5: Leadership and Service Unit 6: Reflection and Closure

10. Results from around the world United States 2-year RCT showed: Significantly lower tobacco use (post 30 days) Significantly lower marijuana use (lifetime) Significantly higher refusal skills (both marijuana & alcohol) Eisen et al. (2003) “Evaluating the Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence program.”

11. Results from around the world United States Three-Year Quasi-experimental Study LQ showed statistically significant impact in: Improvements in school climate & culture Improvements in interpersonal relationships Perception of a safe school climate Reductions in disruptive, aggressive, and dangerous behaviors Kidron, Osher, et al (2016) “Lions Quest: Implementation & Outcome Study in Wood County, WV

12. Results from around the world Latin America – meta analysis of programs in Paraguay, Peru, Colombia Reduction in tobacco and marijuana use Reduction in alcohol (including binge drinking) Increased risk perception Additional Key Finding: the program must be adapted for local culture and context, including alignment with national programs or initiatives Salazar, F. (2015) “Implementacion y Adaptacion del programa Lions Quest (Leones Educando) en Peru, Paraguay y Colombia.”

13. Results from around the world Japan Comparison of LQ students to national averages: Better stress management skills Improved problem solving skills Increased resistance skills and lower use of alcohol Kawataba, T. (2004) “Mini-Evaluation of Skills for Adolescence: Evaluation of Adaptation of the Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence curriculum in Japan and the impact on students.”

14. Global Scale 95 countries, in all regions Successful in high, medium, and low-income contexts Alignment with: International Standards for Drug Use Prevention CICAD’s Hemispheric Strategy US National Registry of Evidence Based Programs & Practices & other national-level certifications

15. Lions Quest & UNODC Partnership collaboration International Standards on Drug Use Prevention Capacity building for evidence-based prevention Support for the SDG 3.5

16. Lions Quest & UNODC Pilot began in South East Europe First country Serbia in 2014-15 Abbreviated version of middle-school curriculum Based on NIDA-validated implementation model Collaboration with Ministry of Education in Serbia Pre- and post-test after one year Significant improvements in refusal skills, perception of risk Expansion to FYR Macedonia / Montenegro

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18. Thank You!  Learn about the program:  www.lions-quest.org www.lions-quest.org  lionsquest@lionsclubs.org lionsquest@lionsclubs.org  twitter.com/lionsquest  Facebook.com/lionsquest