Strengthening Substance Abuse Prevention

Posted by on April 2, 2004

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

TAPPING THE POWER OF COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION

Building developmental assets can play an important role in reducing many forms of youth substance use. Young people with low levels of developmental assets are two to four times as likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs than those who have above-average asset levels, according to a new report from Search Institute. This relationship is true for young people from all racial/ethnic, family, and socioeconomic backgrounds. “Though there have been great advances in understanding of substance use and prevention, it is clear that prevention programs are necessary, but not sufficient to substantially reduce overall use among adolescents,” write report authors Peter L. Benson, Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, and Arturo Sesma Jr. “Asset building offers additional approaches, strategies, tools, insights, and capacity that can be woven together around a shared and sustained commitment to young people?s healthy development in communities.” Download a one-page summary or the complete article (no charge) at:

http://www.search-institute.org/research/Insights/