Types of Drug Prevention

There are as many different types of drug prevention programs as can be imagined by a creative drug abuse coordinator and counselor. However, the most popular types of drug prevention for teens involve accessing information in a way that touches teens where they can begin to make sense of all of the information about drugs; how they are used; and the effects--both long and short term--that drug use may have on them in the future.

Media

• One effective type of drug prevention program, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, is the use of mass media. A media campaign can include print advertisements, television and radio commercials and ads on websites. Mass media campaigns have been a powerful tool for drug prevention due to its passive and non-confrontational nature.

  John Walters, the director of the National Drug Control Policy says that the media campaign is working. "Our ads are contributing to a climate of disapproval of drug use that is so imperative to reducing the human, social and financial costs of this deadly disease."

Personal Stories

• Another type of drug prevention that the National Institute of Drug Prevention cites is the use of personal stories. In many instances, personal stories are effective because teens can see in front of them, what can happen to a person when they use drugs. For many, the immediate effect of talking to someone or listening to them tell about their story is that it makes the effects of drug abuse very real. Many teens believe they are invincible. Talking to another person, particularly if it is another teenager, about the impact of drugs on his life can be a changing event.

Parental Involvement

• The National Institute of Drug Prevention states that parents are the largest influence on children during their lives, even during the teen years. Parents provide the foundational belief and value system for children, even if they are doing so passively. By their behavior, children learn from their parents attitudes about drugs. As a result, parents should be aware of their actions both in front of their children and overall.

School Programs

• Although the "Just Say No" program dates back to the 1980s and enacted by the Reagan administration, it is still in effect today and it continues to have impact on children's lives. The National Institute of Drug Abuse cites that continuity of programs throughout a child's life impacts them by providing a foundation for comparison of activities across their lifespan. In many cases, children who have gone through "Just Say No" and similar programs in school still can recite the lessons of those programs even into their young adult years.

Peers

• One of the most effective drug abuse prevention efforts involves the influence of peers, particularly for teens. According to NIDA, the older the children become, the stronger the influence of friends and peers. However, if parents monitor the peer groups and friends of their child, they can continue to have an influence over attitudes and activities that their child participates in, even while out of the view of the parents. Scheduling activities that keep a child active and healthy can have a strong influence over whether or not a child ultimately comes under the influence of drugs.