NCJ Number
118566
Date Published
1989
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This statement of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, through its National Prevention Network, regarding drug and alcohol abuse prevention focuses on the elements of a public health model: the agent, the host, and the environment.
Abstract
The agent refers to alcohol and other drugs, and the host refers to the individual or groups and their particular susceptibilities to alcohol-related and other drug-using behavior. The environment is the setting or context in which the drinking and other drug-using behavior occurs or is influenced. Prevention strategies focusing on the agent aim at reducing both the supply of and demand for the agent. Factors addressed include availability, advertising and promotion, pricing and taxation, enforcement, deterrence, content labeling, health and safety warning labeling, and other related issues. Prevention strategies that focus on the host help individuals to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles, behavior, attitudes, and knowledge. By helping persons develop personal resources, they are better able to resist drug-abusing behaviors. Demand reduction extends into the environment with a focus on the following factors: legal, economic, family, social, cultural, political, geographic, religious, ethnic, and educational. Prevention efforts must enhance each community's capacity to mobilize organizational and legislative efforts to change these environmental factors when they negatively impact individuals. Based on the elements of the public health model, this paper presents principles of effective prevention programming and discusses issues for the future. 12 references.