How Should Substance Abuse Prevention Work According to the NIDA?

Unfortunately, according to the data collected by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stricter laws do not necessarily prevent substance abuse. There are however many ways both people and communities can prevent substance abuse. According to the research done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are principles that drug prevention programs should entail.

1. All Forms of Drug Abuse Need to be addressed in Prevention

Prevention should focus on all of the drugs rather than just a few of the most public or invasive. Each drug presents a danger to the population not just a few. Just as there are treatment facilities for each type of drug, prevention should encompass each type of drug.

2. Programs Should Address Abuse Locally

Programs serve the community they are based in. They are not a national or international directive. They need to be relatable to community members.

3. Prevention Programs should be Specific to the People

The race, socioeconomic status, and other factors need to be taken into consideration when designing prevention and treatment programs.

4. Families should be included in Prevention Programs

Families should be included in substance abuse prevention programs.

Programs should focus on bonding families and reducing risks in that way. These programs can also include information on how to seek treatment for family members who are in need.

5. Programs should start in Childhood and Continue through Pivotal Points in Development.

Programs that people develop should start in early childhood and continue through high school, focusing on risk factors rather than actual drug education. This addressed should be social skills, aggression, and other such factors.

6. Prevention Programs Should Reduce Risk

Instead of focusing on scare tactics and other previous methods, prevention should focus on reducing risk factors. In reducing risk factors, treatment centers and treatment types should be part of education.

7. Research Based Intervention Programs should be Employed

Intervention programs that are researched and proven to work should be the only ones employed. Things that are ineffective should be discontinued. This goes for treatment types as well as prevention.

8. Programs should be Long Term

Some of the current substance abuse programs are only short term or disconnected. The programs should be congruent and continuous. Treatment and other factors should be integrated with these programs.

How Treatment Centers Help the Community

9. Community Programs should cross Multiple Settings

Drug prevention is not only for schools. Schools, communities, and families should all be involved in substance abuse prevention. Treatment centers and other facilities should be included in this model.

10. Programs should Provide Active Involvement

Everyone should be actively involved in prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Community, family, treatment centers, schools, and education facilities should work together.

11. Treatment Program Availability

Treatment programs and other facilities should be readily available to help those already addicted to drugs. There are already many treatment programs that employ these principles. For more information on treatment programs or prevention programs, call us at 1-800-895-1695. We can help you find programs in your community that can help with the prevention and treatment of your addiction.