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  • “The Dalgarno Institute’s Humpty Dumpty Dilemma, AOD Education presentation was on point. They didn’t pull any punches in delivering a message that was powerful and persuasive, talking about the attitudes towards drug and alcohol use. They used real life examples of the impact of drugs and alcohol on people’s lives and didn’t shy away from challenging stereotypes, cultures and individuals.  To hold the attention of a room full of teenagers is quite a feat and he made it look easy. 

    Comments and conversations with teaching staff after the seminar also affirmed the success of the presentation, with one teacher actually saying he not only valued the presentation, but also did not expect the positive response from the students, considering they were ‘pulled’ from other classes they wanted to attend.”

    Michael Walker, Chaplain. 
    Kerang Technical High School
  • Thank you for coming to Berengarra and delivering your “No Brainer” program. You made a special effort to accommodate the needs of our students and timetable and this was very much appreciated.  The presenter was engaging and enthusiastic, and kept the attention of all the students and staff for 90 minutes. The presentation including the PowerPoint and music and were of a very high quality. The presentation was a great mix imagery, personal stories, facts and statistics that kept the attention of all of our year 8, 9 and 10 students.

    Staff commented on how well the presentation was delivered and received, and would like to work with the Dalgarno institute in the future.

    Claire McIntyre - Student Counsellor
    Berengarra Box Hill Campus

  • We were all very impressed with the way the Dalgarno Institute NO Brainer Presentations captivated the student’s attention over the 90 minute sessions, including cohorts from year 9 and 12…The talks are vibrant and the use of inclusive teaching strategies is commendable

    The presentations helped many of our students consider their decisions about drugs and the social situations that they may encounter involving drugs.

    Many students approach staff after the seminars expressing their appreciation of having been given the opportunity of hearing your message. Several students had also sought teachers’ advice with concerns about their own experiences with drugs as a result of the presentations. 

    Ruth Burton – Coordinator, Health 
    Paul Wilson – Principal Golden 
    Grove High School (Adelaide)

Demand Reduction - Priority One  (Best Practice – Deny/Delay Uptake!)

We express deep concern at the high price paid by society and by individuals and their families as a result of the world drug problem, and pay special tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives and those who dedicate themselves to addressing and countering the world drug problem…

We commit to safeguarding our future and ensuring that no one affected by the world drug problem is left behind by enhancing our efforts to bridge the gaps in addressing the persistent and emerging trends and challenges through the implementation of balanced, integrated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary and scientific evidence-based responses to the world drug problem, placing the safety, health and well-being of all members of society, in particular our youth and children, at the centre of our efforts… 

UNODC – Commission On Narcotic Drugs – Vienna: 2019 Ministerial Declaration (page 3 & 5)

Families and particularly children, should never, ever be casualties of drug use, by anyone. 

It certainly is a gross injustice and heinous social irresponsibility to have policies that increase demand for, and/or access to, illicit drugs which facilitate the costly harms not easily repaired. 

The mantra that we ‘cannot arrest our way out of the drug problem’ is true. However, we also understand that we most definitely will not be able to ‘treat our way out of the drug problem’ either. 

There must be a health, education and legal approach, working in concert and that focuses on demand reduction, prevention and recovery from drug use. This journey approach that properly harnesses the three pillars of the National Drug Strategy – Demand Reduction – Supply Reduction – Harm Reduction, for the purpose of helping build a resilient culture that doesn’t need or want drugs, will see the healthy, productive and safe culture the United Nations Office of Drugs & Crime, and the World Health Organisation are pursuing.  

#demandreduction

'There is no credible voice in the literature that promotes or defends early uptake of alcohol or other drugs, as there is no safe drug use at all, of any drug, for the developing brain 0-26/32 years of age. And whilst not using any drug is not the only option, it is the best practice option for this vital stage of development of the young. As proactive and protective agents of children’s development we seek to afford and/or provide all children, their parents, care-givers or significant others, with as many best practice delaying/denying uptake mechanisms, vehicles and options as possible – Health Care Professionals and Families Must Focus on Youth Substance Use Prevention.

Individuals, groups and/or organisations that seek to permit, promote or otherwise enable young people to engage with psychotropic toxins at this vulnerable stage are not only denying best health practice, but are also contravening United Nations Conventions and Guidelines.

United Nations Economic and Social Council: Commission on Narcotic Drugs – Fifty-ninth session Vienna, March 2016: Operational recommendations on demand reduction and related measures, including prevention and treatment, as well as other health-related issues (p 5.)

We reiterate our commitment to promote the health, welfare and well-being of all individuals, families, communities and society as a whole, and facilitate healthy lifestyles through effective, comprehensive, scientific evidence-based demand reduction initiatives at all levels, covering, in accordance with national legislation and the three international drug control conventions, prevention, early intervention, treatment, care, recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration measures, as well as initiatives and measures aimed at minimizing the adverse public health and social consequences of drug abuse, and we recommend the following measures:

Prevention of drug abuse

  1. Take effective and practical primary prevention measures that protect people, in particular children and youth, from drug use initiation by providing them with accurate information about the risks of drug abuse, by promoting skills and opportunities to choose healthy lifestyles and develop supportive parenting and healthy social environments and by ensuring equal access to education and vocational training;
  2. Also take effective and practical measures to prevent progression to severe drug use disorders through appropriately targeted early interventions for people at risk of such progression;
  3. Increase the availability, coverage and quality of scientific evidence-based prevention measures and tools that target relevant age and risk groups in multiple settings, reaching youth in school as well as out of school, among others, through drug abuse prevention programmes and public awareness-raising campaigns, including by using the Internet, social media and other online platforms, develop and implement prevention curricula and early intervention programmes for use in the education system at all levels, as well as in vocational training, including in the workplace, and enhance the capacity of teachers and other relevant professionals to provide or recommend counselling, prevention and care services; (UNGASS – 2016)

University of Queensland drugs expert Jake Najman said information given to students on drugs should not be a “half an hour school lesson”. Professor Najman said governments needed to invest in developing intensive, long-term drug education for students. “It’s a much more systematic problem that needs real commitment and not just a headline saying, ‘Don’t do it’,” he said. 

23 February 2018, Brisbane Times

We couldn’t agree more; that’s why we had developed our ‘all of school’ incursions and curriculum, along with our ‘all of community’ education seminars – including sporting clubs, parents, community leaders and policy makers! Changing the cultural narrative on drug use is a long game, in which the Dalgarno Institute has been a key stakeholder for over 150 years. Our consistent demand reduction and proactive prevention messaging and resources, have been effective in doing just that, when fully engaged by the community.

Four Personality Traits Can Predict Addiction Risk – And Stop It Before It Starts

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addictionriskNew research reveals that four specific personality traits can predict who will develop addiction problems – and more importantly, how targeted addiction prevention strategies can stop substance abuse before it begins. A groundbreaking Canadian programme demonstrates that personalised intervention works far better than traditional warning-based approaches.

The PreVenture Breakthrough

Canadian clinical psychologist Patricia Conrod has developed addiction prevention strategies that focus on personality rather than substances. Her PreVenture programme, implemented across Canadian classrooms, teaches students about their own psychological traits instead of simply warning about drug dangers.

“When you intervene around these traits and help people learn new cognitive behavioural strategies to manage these traits, you are able to reduce their substance use,” said Conrod, professor at the Université de Montréal.

This personalised approach to substance abuse prevention represents a fundamental shift from reactive to predictive intervention, targeting vulnerability before addiction develops.

Four Critical Risk Traits

PreVenture identifies four personality traits that predict addiction risk with remarkable specificity. These traits don’t just indicate general vulnerability – they reveal exactly which substances individuals gravitate towards, enabling precise addiction prevention strategies.

Anxiety sensitivity affects people who feel overwhelmed by physical symptoms like racing hearts or dizziness. This trait typically leads to alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioid use as individuals seek to calm their bodies.

Sensation seeking characterises those craving excitement and novel experiences. These individuals often turn to cannabis, MDMA, psilocybin, or other hallucinogens. “Cannabis alters their perceptual experiences, and so makes things feel more novel,” Conrod explained. This trait also correlates with binge drinking and stimulant use.

Impulsivity involves difficulty controlling urges and delaying gratification. People with this trait struggle with response inhibition, making substance abuse prevention particularly crucial. “Young people with attentional problems and a core difficulty with response inhibition have a hard time putting a stop on a behaviour once they’ve initiated it,” noted Conrod.

Hopelessness reflects pessimistic, self-critical thinking patterns. Individuals with this trait expect rejection and assume hostility from others, often using alcohol or opioids to numb emotional pain. Conrod describes this as “negative attributional style” – believing the world is hostile and requiring protection.

Targeted Intervention Approaches

Unlike generic drug education programmes, effective addiction prevention strategies must address individual personality profiles. PreVenture uses brief personality assessments to identify dominant traits, then delivers specific cognitive-behavioural techniques.

Students learn how their traits influence automatic thinking patterns and develop healthier responses. Those with hopelessness learn to challenge depressive thoughts, whilst sensation seekers explore safer stimulation methods. Anxiety sensitivity receives calming techniques, and impulsivity training focuses on pausing before acting.

Crucially, successful substance abuse prevention acknowledges trait strengths alongside risks. “We try to present traits in a more positive way, not just a negative way,” said Sherry Stewart, clinical psychologist at Dalhousie University. “Your personality gets you into trouble – certainly, we discuss that – but also, what are the strengths of your personality?”

Genetic Foundations

Research increasingly reveals genetic underpinnings for addiction vulnerability, supporting personality-based addiction prevention strategies. Catherine Brownstein, Harvard Medical School professor and geneticist, explains that personality traits have substantial genetic components.

Her research identified 47 DNA locations affecting brain development and personality traits. Whilst genetic addiction prediction remains impossible, certain variants link to psychiatric disorders often co-occurring with substance abuse, including ADHD and schizophrenia.

Genetic variations also influence pain perception, with some variants increasing sensitivity whilst others eliminate it entirely. The SCN9A gene may make individuals more likely to seek opioid relief. “If you’re in pain all the time, you want it to stop, and opioids are effective,” Brownstein noted.

Future substance abuse prevention may combine genetic screening with psychological profiling for even more personalised interventions.

Proven Effectiveness

Evidence strongly supports personality-targeted addiction prevention strategies. A five-year study published in January showed students participating in PreVenture workshops were 23 to 80 per cent less likely to develop substance use disorders by Grade 11.

The programme has expanded across age groups. PreVenture targets middle and high school students, UniVenture addresses university students, and OpiVenture helps adults in opioid treatment. Implementation spans schools across the US and Canada, including British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Current Challenges

Despite proven effectiveness, personality-based substance abuse prevention remains underutilised. Canada’s flagship youth prevention strategy still follows the 1990s Icelandic Prevention Model, focusing on environmental factors rather than individual psychology.

Whilst the Icelandic model showed success in Iceland, it lacks mental health components, doesn’t address opioid use specifically, and demonstrates mixed gender results. Traditional addiction prevention strategies often default to ineffective generic approaches like one-off guest speakers.

Conrod cites staffing shortages, school burnout, and insufficient mental health services as implementation barriers. However, momentum builds as British Columbia aligns prevention services with PreVenture principles, and organisations like Foundry BC and Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario expand programme reach.

The Personal Connection

The programme’s power lies in helping young people feel understood rather than lectured. Effective addiction prevention strategies create space for individuals to recognise their unique traits and understand they’re not alone.

“It’s really important that a young person is provided with the space and focus to recognise what’s unique about their particular trait,” Conrod emphasised. “Recognise that there are other people in the world that also think this way – you’re not going crazy.”

This understanding transforms substance abuse prevention from fear-based messaging to empowering self-awareness, offering young people tools to manage their psychological vulnerabilities before they become dependencies. (Source: WRD News)