Effective Practice

Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs.

Prevention is one of the main components of a health centred system to address drugs in societies. It is also an integral part of a larger effort to ensure children and young people grow healthy and safe in to adulthood.

This section introduces what is meant by drug use prevention, and what is effective for preventing drug use. It also contains sub-sections for resources targeted to different target groups such as national decision-makers, parents, teachers and youth.

Prevention is supporting the healthy and safe development of children

The primary objective of drug prevention is to help people, particularly but not exclusively young people, to avoid or delay initiation into the use of drugs, or, if they have started already, to avoid developing disorders (e.g. dependence). The general aim of drug prevention, however, is much broader than this: it is the healthy and safe development of children and youth to realize their talents and potential and become contributing members of their community and society.

UNODC International Prevention Standards

Prevention is one of the main components of a health-centred system

Prevention is one of the main components of a health-centred system to address drugs, as mandated by the existing three international Conventions. An effective national drug prevention system delivers an integrated range of interventions and policies based on scientific evidence, in multiple settings, targeting relevant ages and levels of risk.

Other Prevention Standards

Many international organizations have developed standards, guidelines and tools to support the development of effective practice in prevention. Each one of them has slightly different target audiences or approaches.

Evidence based programs

What does effective practice actually look like? Effective practice refers to programmes, projects and other initiatives that have proven to be effective in meeting their intended objectives and outcomes. There are a range of programmes available in the field of drug prevention that have varying degrees of evidence to prove their effectiveness. As there is such a vast array this section points you in the direction of others’ work to provide guides or databases of effective practice.

What can I do as a youth activist or peer leader?

Young people can play a major role in supporting the well-being and healthy life-styles of their peers. Youth are not just a common target of prevention – they can act as a primus motor in supporting prevention activities in their schools and communities.

What can I do as a parent or caregiver?

Parents and primary caregivers have the most influence in helping their children grow happy and learn to cope well. Even in very difficult circumstance, a strong bond between children and parents can protect the children from risky behaviours, including from substance use.