NCJ Number
145464
Date Published
1992
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The President's National Drug Control Strategy strives, among other objectives, to prevent young Americans from ever using illicit drugs. This policy, which joins State, local, and private sector efforts in a Federally coordinated venture, has committed unprecedented resources for drug prevention, treatment, and law enforcement.
Abstract
According to this report, the strategy is succeeding in that the use of illegal drugs by Americans has declined almost 13 percent since 1988. Drug use among young people dropped by nearly 25 percent, and drug use by high school seniors is at the lowest point since 1975. Factors that indicate a young person is at high risk for drug use include early use of alcohol or tobacco; alienation from family, school, and community; poor school performance; antisocial behavior; peer influence; lack of strong positive role models; and family history of drug or alcohol abuse. Several approaches to drug prevention appear to be particularly promising: school-based programs, media campaigns, mentoring, teaching resistance skills, drug-free activities, early childhood programs, community coalitions, and user accountability. Components of successful prevention programs include individual attention for youngsters, provision of factual and credible information, recognition of cultural differences, acceptance of responsibility for one's actions, and strong adult leadership. Strategies that have failed are legalization, responsible use messages, scare tactics, self-esteem exercises, and "magic bullets."