Prevent First Time Use and Misuse through Education
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Overview
Education about substance misuse and substance use disorder is a powerful prevention tool.
Drug education and prevention is an important part of helping individuals understand the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The main focus of drug education and prevention is teaching individuals about drug and alcohol abuse. Education should help a person learn how to avoid, stop, or get help for addiction. The ideal time for drug education and prevention is early childhood. Education can start with parents educating their children and primary school programming that provides drug education and prevention.
Drug education and prevention for adolescents is typically part of most school curriculums. Adults can also benefit from drug education and prevention and can attend classes, group meetings, and research information online in order to learn more about the topic. Generally, drug education and prevention are important for children, teens, and adults alike. There are countless misconceptions about commonly used legal and illegal substances like alcohol and marijuana. When children become educated about drugs and alcohol early in life, it does prevent future use.
Key Topics and Strategies
References and Related Articles
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: HHS, November 2016.
Hanley Foundation. The Hanley Foundation is a national non-profit with a variety of prevention initiatives.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Good Policy and Practice in Health Education - "Education Sector Responses to use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs."
