NCJ Number
223042
Date Published
May 1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
After listing a variety of approaches and strategies used by substance abuse prevention programs, this paper outlines nine elements that the prevention research literature has cited as proven effective in drug-abuse and related crime prevention programs.
Abstract
One effective strategy for preventing alcohol abuse and other drug consists of peer programs and multimodal approaches, particularly those with skill-building and peer components. A second proven approach is an emphasis on life skills and peer-refusal skills, which impact attitudes toward alcohol and other drug use. A third proven strategy is life-skills training, which has been shown to impact an individual’s behavior up to 6 years after the intervention. Such an effect depends on the program being properly implemented, including the use of “booster” sessions in subsequent years. Parenting-skills development is a fourth effective approach. Increasing parent-child attachment is effective in preventing substance use among young people. A fifth related strategy involves changing parental attitudes toward alcohol and other drugs, including parents’ own use of alcohol and drugs. A sixth effective approach involves academic mentoring and tutoring, which are effective in reducing and preventing the use of alcohol and other drugs. Early prevention interventions, a seventh strategy mentioned, targets the development of attitudes toward the use of alcohol and other drugs so as to prevent their abuse. The eighth strategy listed involves advertising the negative effects of alcohol and other drug use, so as to change children and youths’ attitudes toward and use of them. The final strategy is tax and increased price policies for alcohol are related to reduced consumption among adolescents. 32 references