Alcohol & Drug Prevention Programs for Youth: What Works?

This position paper (PDF), developed in collaboration with the Research Division, outlines research-based strategies for effective youth substance abuse prevention programs.

Most young people have experimented with some form of substance: alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs. Some have gone on to use drugs frequently or to misuse them in a way that causes problems in their lives. This has long been a concern of parents, teachers, public health agencies, police and others.

One way to help young people is to develop effective prevention programs that can not only help them immediately, but also set the stage for better health throughout their lifetimes. For parents, educators, service providers and policy makers the question is, What works? How do we reach young people and help them live a healthy lifestyle?

There is no secret formula, but many options have been tested and evaluated. Programs that recognize the reality of adolescent substance use, and that focus on reducing the potential for related harm, are more likely to be successful than programs that focus on abstinence alone. This report reviews different approaches to education and prevention, and outlines a number of practical implications.

 

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