The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates that about seven in 100 13-year-olds drank alcohol in the past month, while at the same time, of adults aged 35 and up, more than half drank. Some people drink and abuse drugs to feel less tense or anxious. Alcohol and drug prevention programs are designed to give folks the facts about substances, and where to get help when it is needed.
Building Blocks for a Healthy Future
Building Blocks for a Healthy Future is a drug and alcohol prevention program developed by the government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, for parents, caregivers and teachers of youth aged three to six. The mission of BBHF is to educate people about promoting a healthy lifestyle and opening the lines of communication with children. The program is based on six steps called "protective factors."
SAMHSA brings BBHF to parents and caregivers with a downloadable facilitator's manual--a step-by-step plan for organizing community workshops. You can print out participant handouts with information on case studies and action plans. On the BBHF website, parents can print out activity books for children and families, music CDs and coloring books, all of which encourage children to talk about their world, dreams, fears and more.
Building Blocks has won more than a dozen awards, including a WWW Health Award seal of approval for best health-related web site and electronic health information, and an Aesculapius Award of Excellence in health communications.
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, is a leading drug abuse prevention program developed to teach communities problem-solving strategies and evaluating local substance-abuse issues. CADCA works with more than 5,000 anti-drug, grassroots groups in the nation.
CADCA has a variety of programs and campaigns that stem from the always-changing drug and alcohol culture in America. The Ambassadors Program was developed for disadvantaged communities. It helps to train ambitious youth in drug prevention so they can stay in their community and help local residents. Got Outcomes! is a yearly competition that awards communities for fighting substance abuse. Medicinal Abuse Awareness is a campaign to educate the public on the dangers of medicinal drug abuse, including over-the-counter medications used to treat coughs and colds, and prescription drugs.
Too Smart to Start
Too Smart to Start helps children, families, caregivers and communities prevent underrate drug and alcohol abuse. TSS is a research-based program that provides strategies and materials designed to educate teens and "tweens" about the dangers of substances. Program objectives include increasing conversations between children and caregivers about the harms of underage alcohol use and increasing disapproval among the public about underage drinking.
On the TSS website, you can print materials with information about evaluating your community's needs, designing local youth programs, neighborhood groups and planning community events. One page on the website, The Cool Spot, is designed for children to get information about how to identify and resist peer pressure, facts about alcohol, and anti-drug games and quizzes.
