Many studies have been done on the effectiveness of drug prevention strategies. According to these studies, the following have been shown to be largely ineffective for reducing substance abuse:
-- information dissemination approaches which teach primarily about drugs and their effects;
-- fear arousal approaches that emphasize the risks associated with drug use, such as mock car crashes;
-- moral appeal approaches which teach youth about the evils of use;
-- affective education programs which focus on building self-esteem, responsible decision-making, and interpersonal growth.
When planning for prevention programs, the following links provide guidance about what does work:
Principles of Effective Substance Abuse Prevention;
Sixteen Prevention Principles.
