International Standards for Drug Use Prevention Second Edition, 2018

Each year hundreds of thousands of people around the globe – rich, poor, educated, illiterate, male, female, and even young children – die from substance use disorders, and many are victims of drug-fueled violence. Beyond the toll drugs take on personal health, substance use disorders undermine economic development, diminish social and political stability, and reduce security around the world. INL’s drug demand reduction program plays a part in addressing the underlying problems that generate violence, fuel other criminal behavior, and heighten instability, thereby bolstering the safety and security of U.S. citizens. Anyone can become addicted to drugs and alcohol with regular use, but some people are at a higher risk than others. Understanding the risk factors can help you learn whether you or your children are at an increased risk of developing a substance abuse disorder. Prevention activities work to educate and support individuals and communities to prevent the use and misuse of drugs and the development of substance use disorders.

As our long-term evaluations have repeatedly demonstrated, INL-sponsored programs are effective and a sound investment, resulting in reductions in drug use and drug related crime. There are government agencies, community leaders, and school personnel that attempt to teach children about living a drug-free life. Much of this is to prevent teen drug abuse before teens reach adulthood or go into the “real world.” As a result of these educational tools, teen drug abuse has significantly decreased from previous decades. Problem Identification and Referral This strategy calls for identification, education, and counseling for those youth who have indulged in age-inappropriate use of tobacco products or alcohol, or who have indulged in the first use of illicit drugs.

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National Institute on Drug Abuse
A division of the National Institutes of Health, NIDA’s mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. Parents help children to understand when to deny something that can hurt them. Parents can establish consistency in communication along with guidance that can be followed for years.

Key organizations include the Coalition of Drug Free Communities of America, the International Society of Substance Use Professionals and its national chapters, and the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR). Encouraging In-kind Contributions for Communities Talk Activities
This resource explains how to encourage in-kind support for underage drinking prevention activities from partner organizations, including expanding an organization’s capacity in the form of volunteers, materials, and services. Take Action to Prevent Underage Alcohol Use (PDF, 1 page)
This data visualization flyer illustrates the steady decline of alcohol use amongst adolescents, informing parents/guardians and communities that taking action against underage drinking is effective. Parents can talk to their children and explain the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Talking to children while they are young can create a strong foundation for awareness of drug use. This helps parents positively influence their children while also teaching their children about boundaries.

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At the same time fewer police and security staff are working, as described by the informants. To increase informal control and compensate for the shortage of formal control during summertime, a sober house program with many cultural activities was conducted during the summer of 2018 at both scenes. According to one of the informants, this contributed to reduced drug dealing and related problems.

I actually want to point out that I have talked to many people there [at the square] who just stand there trying to get in contact with someone who wants to talk to them. The cooperation with the police varies to a great extent depending on where you are and, unfortunately, is down to an individual level. We must be visible, and through our visibility we disturb the [criminal] networks. To further ensure the trustworthiness and credibility of the results, the research team provided a Swedish compilation of the study findings to the informants. Your child sees an adult smoking or vaping and, since you’ve talked about the dangers of smoking before, they are confused.