Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction: What Science Says

Certain protective factors also have been identified. These factors are not always the opposite of risk factors. Their impact also varies along the developmental process. The most salient protective factors include:

• strong family bonds,
• parental monitoring,
• parental involvement,
• success in school performance,
• prosocial institutions (e.g., such as family, school, and religious organizations), and
• conventional norms about drug use.