Office of National Drug Control Policy
for Substance Abuse Prevention
The National Drug Control Strategy's Performance Measures of Effectiveness require
the Office of National Drug Control Policy to "develop and implement a set of
research-based principles upon which prevention programming can be based."
The following principles and guidelines were drawn from literature reviews and
guidance supported by the federal departments of Education, Justice, and Health
and Human Services as well as the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy. Some prevention interventions covered by these reviews have been tested
in laboratory, clinical, and community settings using the most rigorous research
methods. Additional interventions have been studied with techniques that meet
other recognized standards. The principles and guidelines presented here are
broadly supported by a growing body of research.
ADDRESS APPROPRIATE RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN A DEFINED
- Define a population A population can be defined by age, sex, race,
geography (neighborhood, town, or region), and institution (school or
- Assess levels of risk, protection, and substance abuse for that
population. Risk factors increase the risk of substance abuse, and protective
factors inhibit substance abuse in the presence of risk. Risk and protective
factors can be grouped in domains for research purposes (genetic, biological,
social, psychological, contextual, economic, and cultural) and characterized
as to their relevance to individuals, the family, peer, school, workplace,
and community. Substance abuse can involve marijuana, cocaine, heroin,
inhalants, methamphetamine, alcohol, and tobacco (especially among youth) as
well as sequences, substitutions, and combinations of those and other psycho-active
- Focus on all levels of risk, with special attention to those exposed to
high risk and low protection Prevention programs and policies should focus on
all levels of risk, but special attention must be given to the most important
risk factors, protective factors, psychoactive substances, individuals, and
groups exposed to high risk and low protection in a defined population.
Population assessment can help sharpen the focus of prevention.
USE APPROACHES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE
- Reduce the availability of illicit drugs, and of alcohol and tobacco
for the under-aged Community-wide laws, policies, and programs can reduce
the availability and marketing of illicit drugs. They can also reduce the
availability and appeal of alcohol and tobacco to the under-aged.
- Strengthen anti-drug-use attitudes and norms Strengthen environmental
support for anti-drug-use attitudes by sharing accurate information about
substance-abuse, encouraging drug-free activities, and enforcing laws, and
policies related to illicit substances.
- Strengthen life skills and drug refusal techniques Teach life skills and
drug refusal skills, using interactive techniques that focus on critical
thinking, communication, and social competency.
- Reduce risk and enhance protection in families Strengthen family skills
by setting rules, clarifying expectations, monitoring behavior, communicating
regularly, providing social support, and modeling positive behaviors.
- Strengthen social bonding Strengthen social bonding and caring relationships
with people holding strong standards against substance abuse in families, schools,
peer groups, mentoring programs, religious and spiritual contexts, and structured
- Ensure that interventions are appropriate for the populations being
addressed Make sure that prevention interventions, including programs and
policies, are acceptable to and appropriate for the needs and motivations of
the populations and cultures being addressed.
INTERVENE EARLY AT IMPORTANT STAGES AND TRANSITIONS
- Intervene early and at developmental stages and life transitions that
predict later substance abuse. Such developmental stages and life transitions
can involve biological, psychological, or social circumstances that can increase
the risk of substance abuse. Whether the stages or transitions are expected
(such as puberty, adolescence, or graduation from school) or unexpected
(for example the sudden death of a loved one), they should be addressed by
preventive interventions as soon as possibleeven before each stage or
transition, whenever feasible.
- Reinforce interventions over time Repeated exposure to scientifically
accurate and age-appropriate anti-drug-use messages and other
interventionsespecially in later developmental stages and life transitions
that may increase the risk of substance abusecan ensure that skills, norms,
expectations, and behaviors learned earlier are reinforced over time.
INTERVENE IN APPROPRIATE SETTINGS AND DOMAINS
- Intervene in appropriate settings and domains Intervene in settings and
domains that most affect risk and protection for
substance abuse, including homes, social services, schools, peer groups,
workplaces, recreational settings, religious and spiritual settings, and
MANAGE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY
- Ensure consistency and coverage of programs and policies Implementation of
prevention programs, policies, and messages for different parts of the community
should be consistent, compatible, and appropriate.
- Train staff and volunteers To ensure that prevention programs and messages
are continually delivered as intended, training should be provided regularly to
staff and volunteers.
- Monitor and evaluate programs To verify that goals and objectives are
being achieved program monitoring and evaluation should be a regular part of
program implementation. When goals are not reached, adjustments should be made
to increase effectiveness.
Reference Guide to Principles of Prevention