To prevent literally means to keep something from happening. While there is no single definition of substance prevention there is general agreement among prevention practitioners on the overall goal of prevention. Prevention must be intertwined with the general health care and social services delivery systems and it must provide for a full continuum of services. Prevention approaches and messages that are tailored to differing population groups are most effective. It is the development of social environments that facilitate drug-free lifestyles.
Strategies are things people do to try to prevent a behavior such as substance use among teens.
It is essential to have buy-in from the people whose behavior you are trying to effect. The New Directions community grants program is based on the premise that there is no one program or strategy that in and of itself, can reduce alcohol and other drug use. This grant requires communities to use multiple strategies. These strategies, when used in various combinations, can and will reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use when youth and adults are given the knowledge of myth vs. realities on substance issues, as well as providing opportunities to build social competence skills. The New Directions grant was written based on a community-wide assessment by the Community Coordinating Council.