Drug abuse prevention is an employment program for those who have chosen that field as their line of work. This program is expanded to accommodate the growth of the profession and maintain a standard of living. The success of this paradigm is measured in terms of a proliferation of programs, activities and investments. Substance abuse never has to be actually prevented. Conflicting data are presented to support claims of success and at the same time prove that the problem has worsened.
More resources is the inevitable conclusion.
Shifting from the paradigm of doing drug abuse prevention to preventing drug abuse shifts our energy from process to results. This paper is about the latter approach. The morbidity and mortality from tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and illegal drugs are staggering, as are the direct and indirect costs to society. These costs include violence, crime, overburdened service systems, reduced industrial productivity, and higher health care costs. Substance abuse touches every aspect of our society, and we need to find ways to reduce its toll.