Resources by Topic
Substance Abuse
This page features all PPN content on the topic of child and adolescent substance abuse, including program summaries and additional resources and tools that provide evidence-based information on what works for children and families.
Programs that Work
Additional Resources
Programs that Work
These programs aim to prevent or reduce youths' initial or ongoing use and/or abuse of any chemical substance.
Proven Programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Healthy Families New York (HFNY)
Midwestern Prevention Project/Project STAR
Promising Programs
Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS)
Creating Lasting Family Connections
Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.)
Seattle Social Development Project
Proven / Promising Programs
Other Reviewed Programs
Behavioral Monitoring and Reinforcement Program
Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA)
Community Trials Intervention to Reduce High-Risk Drinking (RHRD)
Early Risers 'Skills for Success' Program
Families And Schools Together (FAST)
Keepin' it R.E.A.L. (Refuse, Explain, Avoid, Leave)
Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence
Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education
Minnesota Smoking Prevention Program
Multidimensional Family Therapy
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care
Parenting With Love and Limits
Project Toward No Drug Abuse (Project TND)
Project Toward No Tobacco Use (Project TNT)
Protecting You / Protecting Me
Residential Student Assistance Program
School Transitional Environmental Program
Schools and Families Educating Children (SAFE Children)
Start Taking Alcohol Risks Seriously (STARS) for Families
Strengthening Families Program
Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14
Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program
Teenage Health Teaching Modules
Additional Resources
The additional resources found on this page come from other credible websites that PPN has reviewed for quality and relevance, including links to databases, fact sheets, screening tools, seminal reports, and a variety of other resources that are among the best research-based materials available on children and families.
Reports, Briefs and Other Publications
Guide to Community Preventive Services
The Guide to Community Preventive Services ("Community Guide") is produced by an independent Task Force convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Task Force has conducted systematic reviews of a range of community health topics and diseases and filtered all of the information in order to present an informative and easy to understand summary of information on the effectiveness, economic efficiency, and feasibility of interventions targeting these topics and diseases. The Community Guide contains the systematic reviews organized by topic or disease.
See the Community Guides on alcohol and tobacco at thecommunityguide.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Research Reports
The NIDA Research Reports Index offers links to summaries of research findings on substance abuse organized by substance type. The reports seek to simplify the science of research for the public, policymakers, educational groups, and practitioners. Each report covers a range of topics, including a description of the substance, how it produces effects on the body, short- and long-term effects of the substance, and treatment information.
Research Guide on Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents
Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents, A Research-based Guide for Parents, Educators and Community Leaders, 2nd ed. NIH, NIDA, 2003.
This comprehensive guide produced by the National Institute of Drug Abuse offers information on prevention and treatment of drug abuse, including risk factors, protective factors, prevention principles, and examples of prevention programs. It attempts to help parents, educators, and community leaders to better understand the consequences, prevention, and treatment of drug abuse.
Read the research guide at drugabuse.gov
Websites
SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center is wholly focused on the prevention of substance abuse and works with States and communities to develop and support drug- and crime-free environments in the workplace, school and neighborhood. CSAP initiatives also work to build connections with families and friends as a way to prevent crime and substance abuse. CSAP presents a Strategic Prevention Framework for communities and organizations that includes five components: Assessment, Capacity Building, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Resources and tools are available to assist with each component. CSAP also provides grant opportunities to organizations and communities.
Monitoring the Future Study
Monitoring the Future is a long-term study of substance use among American adolescents and young adults. The study surveys approximately 50,000 youth each year in grades 8, 10, and 12. A smaller sample of students are followed for a number of years after graduation. Results of the study are released each year. Information about the study and a link to all of the related publications are available on the Monitoring the Future website.
NIDA for Teens Website
NIDA for Teens website offers educational information on the science behind drug abuse. It targets adolescents aged 11 through 15, as well as their parents and teachers. The website uses animated illustrations, quizzes and games to make learning more interesting and fun through interaction.
Databases and Tools
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
NREPP is a searchable online database of mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs that have been reviewed and rated by independent reviewers. It offers descriptive information about the intervention, its targeted outcomes, quality of research, and contact information for the program developer. NREPP, which is produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), seeks to assist the public in identifying interventions that have been scientifically tested and to help individuals and organizations implement programs and practices in their communities. Programs for this site that meet PPN criteria for a Promising rating area also linked to from the PPN Programs that Work section.
U.S. Department of Education Safe and Drug-Free Schools Programs
This program, in cooperation with the Office of Educational Research and Improvement formed the Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools Expert Panel. The Expert Panel identified and designated nine exemplary and 33 promising programs that promote safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. This initiative intends to enhance drug prevention programs by making schools aware of alternative interventions that have proven their effectiveness based on scientific evidence. Programs from the initiative that meet PPN criteria for a Promising rating are also linked to from the PPN Programs that Work section.