Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction: What Science Says

Prevention program should include skills training to help children and adolescents resist drugs, strengthen personal commitments against drug use, increase social competency (e.g., communications, peer relationships, self efficacy, and assertiveness), and reinforce attitudes against drug use. Programs should use interactive methods (e.g., group discussion) rather than didactic teaching methods alone. In addition, most effective programs are long-term and use "booster sessions" to reinforce content.