NCJ Number
161943
Date Published
1991
Length
72 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides examples of successful community prevention programs and guidelines for finding out more about a community's prevention needs and taking action.
Abstract
One of the successful programs described is Project Graduation, begun in Maine in 1980. High schools across the Nation are adopting its strategy of providing high school students with a drug-free graduation party, thereby reducing the number of automobile crashes that often accompany this and other celebrations. Another program, Oakland Parents in Action, involves parents, educators, and community leaders at all levels in the fight against drug use. Another example of community action is Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE). PRIDE joins parents and teachers in the shared goal of preventing alcohol and other drug use among students by fostering a belief in self-help and by promoting attitudes of non-blaming. After describing the aforementioned model programs, the booklet identifies the major segments of the community that have a role to play in preventing alcohol and drug abuse by youth. These segments are the family, schools, youth and recreation groups, the health care system, the legal system, the religious community, the business community, civic organizations, and the local media. The booklet provides questions for community leaders to ask to find out more about prevention activities that may be already underway in these segments of the community. Suggestions for promoting prevention in each of the segments are also offered. The booklet lists government and nongovernment prevention resources and background information on the problems caused by alcohol and drug use among youth.