A U.S. government drug abuse prevention agency recognized 20 community programs from around the nation for their successes in preventing and reducing illegal drug and alcohol abuse. These model programs demonstrate that by enhancing protective factors, many youth can overcome exposure to risk and we can protect our children from initiating drug use. The model programs cited by CSAP take a variety of approaches.
Some programs target at-risk youth, and assist in building character and avoiding risky behavior.
Others engage whole families in therapy to correct problem behavior in children, and to improve family communication and functioning. Yet another approach pairs nurses with young, pregnant mothers to improve infant health and parenting skills with the goal of preventing problems in later years. These model programs demonstrate that by enhancing protective factors, many youth can overcome exposure to risk and we can protect our children from initiating drug use. These programs provide us with concrete results that prevention works. CSAP's National Dissemination System identifies model programs, provides training and technical assistance, and works with States, localities and the private sector to ensure effective implementation.