Since 1991, drug use has been increasing among America's youth. In order to combat the problem, providers need to learn successful drug prevention methods in regards to young people.
Providers must be aware of the risk factors (factors associated with greater potential for drug use) such as chaotic home environments, ineffective parenting, failure in school performance, and affiliations with deviant peers or peers around deviant behaviors. For most children the vulnerable periods are transitions, when they grow from one developmental state to another; or when they experience difficult life changes.
In order for providers to be successful certain aspects have to be addressed. Family relationships play an important role in a young person's life. Prevention programs can teach parents skills for better family communication, discipline, firm and consistent rulemaking, and other parenting skills. Providers should emphasize parents taking a more active role in their children's lives. Prevention programs should also focus on peer relationships by developing social-competency skills, which involve improved communications, enhancement of positive peer relationships and social behaviors and resistance skills to refuse drug offers. School environment should also be addressed with an emphasis on enhancing academic performance and strengthening students bonding to school by giving them a sense of identity and achievement and reducing the likelihood of their dropping out of school. Prevention programs must also work with the community to enhance anti-drug norms and pro-social behaviors through changes in policy or regulation, mass media efforts, and communitywide awareness programs.
An effective prevention program will not only educate children about the negative effects of drugs, especially the most immediate adverse effects in their lives, but also address other issues that young adults are facing in today's world. By helping children become more successful in school behavior and performance it helps them form strong pro-social bonds with their peers, the school and community.
In order for providers to be successful in their attempts to reduce adolescent substance abuse, programs should
- Be designed to reduce known risk factors
- Target all forms of drug abuse, including tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
- Include skills to resist drugs when offered, strengthen personal commitments against drug use, and increase social competency in conjunction with reinforcement of attitudes against drug use
- Be long-term, with repeat interventions to reinforce the original prevention goals.
- Age-specific, developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive.
- Adapted to address the specific nature of the drug abuse problem in the local community
Providers become successful by staying informed about new and innovative efforts in the field.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Connecticut Clearinghouse
National Institute of Drug Abuse
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Connecticut Prevention Network
Drug Free Community Coalitions
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Drug Enforcement Agency
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