Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide

This is Archived Content. This content is available for historical purposes only. It may not reflect the current state of science or language from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Find current research and publications at nida.nih.gov.

This guide, intended for parents, practitioners, and policymakers, begins with a list of 7 principles addressing the specific ways in which early interventions can have positive effects on development; these principles reflect findings on the influence of intervening early with vulnerable populations, on the course of child development, and on common elements of early childhood programs.

Published in 2016, this report offered stakeholders information on principles of prevention for use in the early years of a child’s life (prenatal through age 8). For the latest information on prevention research, visit NIDA’s Prevention webpage.

Publication Date: March 2016