essay about drug abuse prevention and control week

Drug Abuse Prevention and Control

This essay will discuss strategies for preventing and controlling drug abuse. It will cover various approaches, including education, policy changes, rehabilitation programs, and law enforcement efforts, to provide a multi-faceted view of drug abuse prevention and control. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Crime Prevention.

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The deep, energetic and sonorous voice of Whitney Houston that graced our ears will truly be missed. She was found dead in her house as a result of cocaine overdose. She was about 48 when she died. So will young Mac Miller and Lil Peep- talented celebrities who died of accidental fentanyl overdose at a very young age. Their stories, we heard due to the status they have achieved in the society. There are millions of other young people all over the world given to illegal drugs misuse and overdose who die daily due to drugs.

Deaths caused by illegal drugs have been estimated to be about 200,000 yearly for injecting drug abusers.

Some of the dangers associated with illegal drug use include overdose, addictions, criminal behavior alongside a myriad of side effects. Illegal drug users or drug abusers pose a threat to themselves and to the environment at large. Seeing the big dangers associated with illegal drug use and the increase in number of illegal drug users, several measures have been taken by different countries to curb this menace. The United states government adopted the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs law which provided different measures such as compulsory treatment and severe punishment for drug related offences including death penalties for some categories of Drug trafficking.

For example, Malaysian government recently declared death penalty for drug traffickers. Under the Malaysian law, if a person possesses as small as few ounces of marijuana and half an ounce of heroin, the person is declared a trafficker. Other countries such as Vietnam, Saudi Arabia etc. have zero tolerance for illegal drug users. Also, several establishments and non-governmental organizations have launched campaign against drug abuse and illegal drug use.

However, jail terms and prison sentences have proven ineffective in the control of illegal drug use. Criminalization approaches to drug use has mostly exacerbate the problem rather than solving the problem. Recidivism, which is the tendency to relapse into the previous state, has been confirmed in most illegal drug users who serve jail terms. Studies carried out in 15 states showed that one-quarter of the prison inmates released returned to the prisons for other crime related offences including testing positive for drug use. In fact, illegal drugs are sold in prisons despite the security and controlled environment prisons offer. It seems more like the very things the offenders are being punished for are what they are being exposed to in prison cells. Some other post prison trauma such as living with the stigma of being an ex-convict, difficulty in getting a paid employment, difficulty in reuniting with their family or loved ones cause some of the illegal drug users to fall into relapse.

Drug abuse and addiction is one of the key disadvantages of illegal drug use. It has been confirmed that chronic addiction associated with drug abuse is actually an illness that requires help, treatment and care. The emphasis should be placed on drug counseling/psychotherapy and education of individual drug users. The combinations of these two approaches have proven to be more effective than criminalizing illegal drug users. It should be noted that drug abuse as a result of illegal drug use is a health concern and if it is addressed as a health concern, people should not be jailed because of their sicknesses. Furthermore, keeping drug users in prison is quite expensive for the government.

The longer the sentences, the greater the bill. It was discovered that in 2008, the United States government spent 47 billion naira on corrections. These monies could be diverted into building a structure for psychotherapy/drug counseling and drug information centers. Drug users come out better and benefit more from programs like this. In addition, integrating drug education into school curriculum would go a long way in prevention or reducing the incidence of illegal drug use. Early child education and awareness is important

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DM NO.368, S.2024 OBSERVANCE OF THE DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL WEEK

• Substance Abuse Prevention and Effective Prevention Programs Words: 548
• Substance Abuse Among Teenagers Words: 1458
• Substance Abuse Prevention in Adolescence Words: 1603
• Substance Abuse Relapse among Women Words: 4409
• Substance Abuse and Its Effect on the Community Words: 594
• Substance Abuse Literature Review Words: 2678
• Family Violence and Substance Abuse Words: 2044
• Drug and Substance Abuse: Causes and Socioeconomic Determinants Words: 884
• Social Factors of Substance Drug Abuse Words: 903
• Drugs and Substance Abuse in College: Effects and Treatments Words: 827
• Substance Abuse Problem Analysis Words: 844

Prevention of Substance Abuse

Drug abuse is becoming a growing social and a public health problem. There are many substances blamed to be of use and abuse. Substances are either licit or lawful (bought legally as tobacco and alcohol) and illicit or illegal as heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis. This has influenced public and individual view to the whole problem. Public view on a drug being a licit one, there is no enough cause to face its consumption. Second, being licit, it is available for everyone’s’ wide use; yet, the harm is still cropping up (Fagg, pp.1-15). This essay aims to discuss briefly prevention of substance abuse.

On reviewing the literature, substance use, abuse, and dependence are used interchangeably (Fagg, pp. 1-15). Based on the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR (2002), both substance abuse and dependence are maladaptive patterns of substance use. The difference is mainly in the decisive factors needed to consider a case an abuse or dependence. Drug abuse is an individual showing one or more of the following signs within 12 months of drug use. Repeated drug use results in failure to fulfill a principal commitment (work, school, social, or family). The individual does not avoid using the drug in possibly risky circumstances as driving or working on a machine. Other signs include repeated use of the drug despite exposure to legal problems, social or family problems caused by, or aggravated by using the drug. In drug dependence, the individual fulfills at least three (or more) of the following signs on condition, signs take place within 12 months of drug intake. First is tolerance, it takes one of two forms , either there is a need to take increasing doses to get the wanted effect or continued intake of the same dose results in reduced effect. Second, drug withdrawal results in symptoms relieved by drug intake. Third, is despite continuous urge to stop the drugs but repeated trials persistently failed. Fourth, longtime, persistent, repeated, and failing efforts spent trying to control the drug intake are signs of drug dependence. Other signs are declining significant commitments whether social, work-related, or leisure-related because the individual keeps on taking the drug (DSM-IV, pp.185-198).

A successful substance abuse prevention program should fulfill the following stipulations (National Institute on Drug Abuse, pp. 2-25).

• About risk and protective factors: a prevention program should focus on strengthening protective factors, and minimizing risk factors. It should also address all possibilities of substance abuse (single or in combinations) and should be planned for the targeted community.
• Prevention programs usually give better results if combined (school and family targeted), and delivered at times of transition (as the transition from middle school to high school)
• It should be research-based in structure, content, and delivery.
• It should be long-term with interventions or booster sessions, and delivered in multiple settings (school, clubs, family, or religious organizations)
• Several Meta-analysis studies confirmed that interactive approaches produce better results than non-interactive ones.
• A successful prevention program should include training of the executive personnel.

Based on data from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), there are three different approaches to choose the one most suitable to the target group. The universal approach, the selective approach, targets a subgroup considered at high risk. Third, is the indicated approach that aims at the subgroup showing early signs of substance dependence (Nebraska Behavioral Heath Program, pp.9-10).

Prevention of substance abuse needs inclusive and intricate approaches that interconnect school, family, and community. Whatever the approach is, it has to rely on an understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural factors behind the problem (Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA, p. 85). Psychological comorbidity is common with substance abuse, Rosack (p.32) stated that smoking in the targetUS population is nearly 23%, in schizophrenia and mood disorders patients tobacco abuse rises nearly to 90%. A figure that points to how important prevention-associated, intervention programs are.

Works Cited

• American Psychiatric Association (2002). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
• Disorders DSM IV-TR (4th ed). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
• Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. UCLA Dept. of Psychology. A resource aid packet on Substance Abuse. 2003.
• Fagg, D. “Adolescent Drug Use.” Revolve vol 13 2006. p. 1-15.
• Nebraska Health and Human Service System. Office of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Addiction Services. SICA Guidance Document For Selecting Science-Based and Promising Substance Abuse Prevention Strategies. By Nebraska Behavioral Health Prevention Program. 2004.
• Rosack, J. “NIDA, APA Collaborate On Substance Abuse Series.” Psychiatric News vol 39 (4) 2004. p. 32.

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108 Drug Abuse Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best drug abuse topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on drug abuse, 💡 most interesting drug abuse topics to write about, ❓ drug abuse research questions.

Drug abuse essays are an excellent way to learn about the issue and its influence on various groups and populations while demonstrating your understanding.

Various substances, including alcohol, narcotics, and other mind-altering products, are a popular method for recreation in some communities.

However, they are prone to result in addiction, psychological as well as mental, and lead the person to pursue another dose before anything else.

In doing so, he or she can eventually ruin his or her life, which is why most drugs are currently banned around the world. This article will offer you some tips that will help you write an excellent essay and receive the top grade.

Youth is a major demographic that is affected by addiction issues due to drug consumption. Young people are impressionable and prone to search for new sensations. Drugs can offer a sense of novelty and provide an experience they have not had before, leading to considerable appeal.

Considering that young people are generally not wealthy and have to focus on work to succeed in life, essays on drug among youth can use a variety of excellent topics. You can offer your ideas on the reason for the phenomenon’s existence and ways in which it can be prevented.

However, remember that the purpose of the programs should be to help the people who are at risk.

There are many other drug abuse essay topics that you can explore, with poverty being a prominent example. Despite their conditions, many people turn to substance abuse to try and escape the unpleasant aspects of their life.

These population segments are more likely to suffer after acquiring a drug habit than young people because they generally receive less attention.

Furthermore, poor neighborhoods with relatively low amounts of surveillance by law enforcement are likely to house drug dealers who prey on vulnerable people.

You can discuss this topic or discuss a variety of other ones, as the relationship between poverty and poor outcomes has been researched deeply.

Here are some additional tips for your essay:

• Try to use examples to illustrate your points about various aspects of the issue. Drug addiction essay quotations from people who are affected by the condition or have overcome it can offer valuable insights. They also legitimize your findings by providing parallels with the real world.
• Alcohol essays are an excellent choice, as the substance is legal and available to everyone without much difficulty. Nevertheless, its effects can be devastating, especially if a person’s consumption is chronic.
• Try to write a drug abuse essay outline before starting work, as it will help you to organize the essay. Select some prominent ideas that you want to discuss and organize them in a manner that represents a logical progression. You do not have to discard all of the other concepts, as you can make them sub-headings under your main titles.
• Be sure to include a drug abuse essay introduction and conclusion in your work. They will help you provide a structure to the essay and make it easier for the reader to understand your ideas. The introduction should describe the topic and provide the thesis, and the conclusion should restate your main points.

Visit IvyPanda for drug abuse essay titles, and other useful samples on various subjects to help you with your writing work!

• Drug and Alcohol Abuse For along time now, drug and alcohol abuse in the society has been a problem that affects the youth and the society at large. This paper highlights the problems of drug abuse and alcohol drinking […]
• Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Drug trafficking contributes to drug abuse in the society. Drug trafficking also contributes to increased criminal activities that affect the security of citizens.
• Social Media Impact on Drug Abuse Thus, social media platforms definitely contribute to the misuse of various drugs by romanticizing their consumption and making “social drug use” acceptable among users.
• Drug Abuse & Its Effects on Families Focusing on the family seems to be by far, the most known and effective way of finding a solution with regards to the “war on drugs” since it more promising to end the vicious cycle […]
• Drug Abuse and Current Generation Drug abuse also breeds an array of behavioral problems among young people, which may affect their suitability to fit in the society.
• Consequences of Drug Abuse The endless stream of drugs, obtainable to the individuals with little or no restrictions, poses a serious inquiry. When assessing the advantages of using pharmaceutical drugs, it is essential to consider the severity of health […]
• Merton’s Argument of Deviance: The Case of Drug Abuse The most prominent example in support of Merton’s argument in relation to drug abuse is that cultural and social circumstances play a crucial role in defining people’s desire to engage in drug use.
• Drug and Substance Abuse Many experts consider addiction as a disease as it affects a specific part of the brain; the limbic system commonly referred to as the pleasure center.
• Drug Abuse Among Homeless Young Adults in New Jersey The reason why young adults in New Jersey get involved in drugs and alcohol after becoming homeless is to manage their situations in an attempt to attain the tentative pleasure of life despite their problems. […]
• Teenage Drug Abuse in the United States The problem of teenage drug abuse inflicts a threat to the future society and health state of the overall population in the United States.
• Reasons Behind Youth’s Engagement to Drug Abuse in the 21st Century Although youths in the 21st century engage in drug abuse due to several factors, it suffices to declare factors such as the rising unemployment status, peer pressure, and their hiked tendency to copy their parents’ […]
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents and Its Causes Scientific research shows that the development factors for adolescent drug abuse are not limited to a set of three to five causes, but are usually linked to the integration of destructive environmental conditions.
• Drug Abuse Among the Youth Essentially, this case study will allow the evaluation of the prevailing cases of drug abuse among the youth. In this regard, the pain and peer pleasure cannot be persevered to allow an explicit cure of […]
• Drug Abuse as an Ethical Issue On the side of duties and obligations, the societal norms stipulate that individuals should be caring to other members of the society especially the children and the old.
• Youth Drug Abuse Among, Education, and Policies Although drug abuse encompasses improper use of drugs disregarding the prescriptions of medical practitioners, the principal challenges of drug abuse occasion from abuse of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
• Drug Abuse and Its Psychological Effects The purpose of this paper is to explore in more depth the psychological effects of addiction on the family and inner circle of the addict.
• Drug Abuse, Aggression and Antisocial Behavior The use of abusive drugs can cause anger in people because of the effect they have on the brain. An example of how alcohol can cause aggression in a person is that it impairs an […]
• Policies for Pregnant Women With Drug Abuse Thus, out of all the offered policies, financial support for therapy is the best one, as it motivates prevention and treatment, which, in turn, causes the improvement of this situation.
• The Formative Evaluation: Program of Addressing Drug Abuse in Schools The proposed program sought to educate students about the challenges of drug abuse, its impacts on academic performance, and the best techniques to avoid the vice.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Canada Therefore, it contributes as a central factor in the essence of the character, and it is crucial to understand the core definition and the elements that foster the ideology.
• Mitigating Drug Abuse in Pine View School The inclusion of professionals in the fields of health care, counseling, and drugs is expected to promote the delivery of desirable results.
• Drug Abuse and Its Negative Effects This paper aims to highlight what the field of psychology says about the negative effects of drugs and why people continue using despite the consequences. The main effect is that it creates a memory of […]
• Prevention Programs: Drug Abuse Resistance Education This program focuses on handling peer pressure among youths, a crucial cause of drug abuse in the country. The program is also grounded on sound research, which offers the critical elements vital to handling the […]
• Drug Abuse in Lake County, California The topic of drug abuse is essential for discussion due to the need to develop strategies to prevent and minimize the dangerous consequences of drug abuse in different regions.
• Community Intervention Practices against Drug Abuse The key features that result in successful community-based intervention on drug abuse are integrated for effectiveness and efficiency. On the other hand, drug abuse refers to the consumption of substances that elicit particular feelings and […]
• Drug Abuse Effects on Health and Nervous System These numerous damages severely affect the quality of the brains work and the health of the nervous system. While discussing the effects of drug addiction, it is essential to notice that it has a devastating […]
• Drug Abuse. “Nine Years Under” Book by Sheri Booker The book is thought provoking and important because it allows representing the difficult social situation and the problems of gang violence and drugs in the United States from the personal point of view.
• Substance Abuse: Prevention Strategies and National Benchmarks Still, this desire to get away from problems by means of substances instead of making effort to improve an individual’s environment contributed to the evolution of the challenge of substance abuse into a real public […]
• Alcoholism, Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse Kaur and Ajinkya researched to investigate the “psychological impact of adult alcoholism on spouses and children”. The work of Kaur and Ajinkya, reveals a link between chronic alcoholism and emotional problems on the spouse and […]
• Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use National survey results on drug use obtained by Monitoring the Future have a significant value to the development of various approaches with regard to the prevention of drug abuse.
• The Health Issues Associated With Drug Abuse It is therefore imperative to develop strategies for health promotion to reduce the number of teenagers, the most at-risk family member when it comes to drug abuse.
• Fentanyl – Drug Profile and Specific and Drug Abuse The drug has the effect of depressing the respiratory center, constricting the pupils, as well as depressing the cough reflex. The remainder 75% of fentanyl is swallowed and absorbed in G-tract.
• Cases of Drug Abuse Amongst Nursing Professionals It is noteworthy that at the top of the information, the date posted is Monday, February 14, 2011, yet against the information, the date is February 11, 2011.
• The Treatment of Drug Abuse Any medical practitioner treating a drug abuse patient has to be careful in many aspects, like: He has to be careful on the issue that if the addiction has effected the brain of the patient.
• Drug Courts and Detoxification: Approach to Drug Abuse Treatment However, since 1989, the US federal system has been providing the majority of drug abusers with proper treatment or education with the help of a drug court option.
• Drug Abuse and Prevention Strategies When specialists deal with preventative factors, they pay attention to both mental and physical ways to resist the drug. The symbiosis of these procedures is exceptionally efficient in terms of the drug rehabilitation process when […]
• Drug Abuse in Adolescents Aged 15-19 Years Old: A Public Health Menace In addition, the objectives of the paper are as follows: the first aim is to analyze the collected data and produce a review of the information.
• Drug Abuse and Addiction Holimon has succeeded in reviving some of her family relations, and she is still putting a lot of effort to get ahead in this area to the fullest extent possible.
• Sports as a Solution to Youth Substance Abuse: Dr. Collingwood’s View His comments made me realize that it would be unwise by the end of the day for any parent to leave their children under the mercy of the media where they learned that doing drugs […]
• Drug Abuse in High School and College With respect to social work and the problem of substance abuse, research has been carried out in terms of investigating the relationship between drug abuse and poverty, the effects of drug abuse on the society.
• Critical Issues in Education: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism For this case, the ministry concerned has a very hard task of ensuring there are no critical issues that are left unsolved that relate to education, failure to which will affect the performance of students […]
• Biopsychosocial Experience in Drug Abuse Treatment There has to be a preventive strategy in every intervention procedure to avoid the occurrence of a disease. I find the course of treatment in this intervention beneficial for the creation of the needed preventive […]
• Addictive Behavior Programs and Drug Abuse Trends The involvement of stakeholders is an essential condition for the effectiveness of this model of work and its results, and all the roles should be allocated in accordance with the capabilities of the program’s participants.
• Social Behaviour as a Science: Drug Abuse in Youth Thus, the application of social psychology to the phenomenon of youth drug abuse helps to explain how social factors impact the prevalence of and risk for drug abuse.
• Financial Planning for Drug Abuse Prevention in Virginia Estates Therefore, the first preferred sources for the program are the County Commission and the Alabama Department of Corrections. The program can be financed by the Montgomery County Commission in the short term and Alabama Department […]
• Problem of Drug Abuse in Schools The research worked on the hypothesis that the treatment would reduce or result in the total cessation of drug use, and better relations with family and friends.
• Prescription Drug Abuse in the United States The combination of Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective for the patients, who want to reduce and control the level of pain.
• Impact of Drug Abuse on Adolescent Development Therefore, it is important for counselors to consider these stages to help them address the issue of substance abuse among adolescents. In the habitual stage, most adolescents take drugs to help them modify their moods.
• Drug Abuse: Age, Gender and Addictive Susceptibility This incorporates the aspects of gender where males and females possess varying biological constitutions that might affect the prescribed treatments in the realms of addiction. It is important to consider the rapidity and susceptibility of […]
• Prevention Research: The Fight Against Drug Abuse It is agreeable that US’s ‘War on Drugs’ has been an effective substance abuse prevention plan despite the hiccups that the program faces and its inability to attain some of its designated mandates within the […]
• Drug Abuse Prevention Programs Additionally, it is possible to prospect the success of the program in case the required readiness from the community can be unveiled prior to the program execution.
• Use of Psychotropic Medications in the Treatment of Drug Abuse This is because the mental illness is, literally, the one that sustains the abuse of drugs and thus after it is healed; the patient will have no reason to continue abusing the drugs.
• A New Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Rehabilitation Center in Liverpool Hospital, Sydney The hospital, in response to this distress, has decided to bring help closer to the people of Liverpool by the construction of the annex facility.
• The Extent of Drug Abuse Among People in America Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Said He Lied about Crack Cocaine Use Because He Was Embarrassed Mayor lied about the use of crack cocaine The article titled “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said he lied about crack […]
• Drug Use and Abuse in America: Historical Analysis The new law was similar to the Boggs Act of 1951 in that it employed the same formula of using perceived increase in drug use in the country.
• “Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction” by National Institute on Drug Abuse The literature provides us with a report of a research that has been conducted in the US regarding the topic of cocaine and drug abuse.
• Drug Abuse and Society Regardless of the many intervention measures that can be adopted to solve this problem of drug abuse, the most effective intervention measure is to create awareness to youths to enable them change their behaviors and […]
• Prescription Painkillers, the New Drug Abuse of Choice Studies attribute the recent increase in the misuse of prescription drugs to an increase in the use of the Internet, which facilitates the growth of illegitimate online drug stores and uncontrolled online prescription drug sales.
• Music Analysis: Drug Abuse in Music So in this song the artist is also lamenting the dangers of drugs and the theme of the music is one that advocates against tackling the problem with issues of drug abuse by arguing the […]
• Drug Abuse: Comprehensive Review The effects associated with drug abuse tend to vary depending on an individual’s age and the phase of drug abuse that the person is in.
• Drug Abuse as a Social Problem This poses as problem to the society because many of the people who are unemployed will resort to different ways of seeking money and pleasure.
• Adolescent’s Drug Abuse and Therapy Success When one accepts to put up with negative peer pressure, they end up giving up the personal trusts and values thus the pressure becomes a form of a negative force.”Does peer pressure affect the decision […]
• What Are Influences That Cause Drug Abuse on Youth?
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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Drug Addiction — The Causes, Effects, Types, and Prevention and Treatment of Drug Abuse

The Causes, Effects, Types, and Prevention and Treatment of Drug Abuse

• Categories: Drug Addiction

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Published: Feb 7, 2024

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Causes of drug abuse, effects of drug abuse, types of drugs, prevention and treatment.

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Drug addiction is a complex and contentious issue that has sparked debates for decades. At the heart of this debate is the question of whether drug addiction should be viewed as a choice made by individuals or as a disease that [...]

Drug addiction is a complex and pervasive issue that poses significant challenges for individuals and communities around the world. The detrimental effects of drug addiction are far-reaching and impact public health, safety, and [...]

The problem of drug consumption is widespread among teenagers and teenagers, the main consumers of drugs. Drug addiction not only leads to important physiological changes, but also changes the behavior of individuals, especially [...]

Doan, H. (2007). Police dogs will sniff out drugs at city schools. The Roanoke Times.Mayo Clinic. (2019). Drug addiction (substance use disorder).National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022). Principles of drug addiction treatment: [...]

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Substance Use Prevention Resources for Youth and College Students

SAMHSA offers free, downloadable publications and tip sheets, as well as mobile apps for youth , teens , and young adults on topics such as substance misuse, common mental health conditions, and coping with disasters and other traumatic events.

Resources for Middle School Youth (Ages 10–13)

Underage Drinking: Myths Versus Facts

This fact sheet, written specifically for preteens and teens, compares the myths with the facts about alcohol use and its effects.

NIAAA for Middle School

This webpage contains interactive activities to help parents, caregivers, and teachers introduce and reinforce key messages about peer pressure, resistance skills, and other important topics related to underage drinking.

Resources for High School Youth (Ages 14–18)

Prescription Drugs: They Can Help But Also Hurt: Not Worth the Risk

This brochure describes for teens the dangers of misusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. It lists warning signs of prescription drug misuse and offers advice on receiving help.

The Tips for Teens series educates teens about the dangers of drug use, including short- and long-term health risks and ways the drug affects the brain.

• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol (also available in  Spanish )
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Cocaine (also available in  Spanish )
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About E-Cigarettes  (also available in  Spanish )
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Hallucinogens (also available in  Spanish )
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Heroin  (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About HIV (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Inhalants (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Methamphetamine (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Opioids (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Sedatives  (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Steroids  (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Stimulants (also available in  Spanish)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Tobacco (also available in  Spanish )

Understanding Anxiety Disorders: Get the Facts

This fact sheet offers young adults information on living with anxiety disorders. It discusses causes of anxiety disorders and approaches to treatment.

Understanding Depression: Get the Facts

This fact sheet offers young adults information on living with depression, including causes and approaches to treatment.

What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families

This brochure addresses concerns of children and family members of people living with substance use disorders.

Youth Engaged 4 Change

This website provides youth-focused resources and opportunities that inspire and empower young people to make a difference in their lives and in the world around them by improving their knowledge and leadership skills.

Facts About Teen Drinking

Research shows that underage drinking rates are declining. However, it is still important to know how alcohol affects your health, how to identify signs of a problem, and where to get help.

Resources for Young Adults and College Students

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives: Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking

This guide shows how HBCUs, as well as other institutions that primarily serve students from a distinct background, region, or culture, can create prevention strategies to meet the unique needs of those students.

College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives: Lessons Learned at Frostburg State University

This guide shows how Frostburg State University reduced underage and high-risk drinking among the student population and discusses how these strategies were implemented.

Prevent Unsafe Drinking Behaviors On Campus

This data visualization illustrates heavy alcohol use and binge drinking statistics amongst college-age youth to inform colleges and communities.

This fact sheet offers young adults information on living with anxiety disorder. It discusses causes of anxiety disorder and approaches to treatment.

This fact sheet offers young adults information on living with depression, including depression and approaches to treatment.

Tips for College Students: After a Disaster or Other Trauma  (also available in  Spanish )

This fact sheet helps college students cope with disasters and other traumatic events. It describes normal reactions to trauma and emphasizes the importance of talking about feelings.

An official website of the United States government

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Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• NIDA supports research to develop and test effective, sustainable, scalable strategies to prevent substance use or misuse, progression to substance use disorders, and other negative health effects of substance use.
• Evidence-based prevention strategies can have long-term, cost saving benefits for both personal and public health, particularly when they are implemented during childhood and adolescence. Effective prevention strategies have been designed to meet people’s needs at different stages of life—from the prenatal period through early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood—and in varied settings like family life, schools, healthcare settings, and communities.
• Studies indicate that substance use disorders and other drug-related harms are more likely to occur when a person has experienced risk factors such as a family history of substance use disorders, personal trauma, or access to drugs. Protective factors, such as healthy family and peer relationships and financial stability, may lessen a person’s risk of developing substance use disorders.

Why are some people more likely to use drugs?

People report using drugs for a wide variety of reasons. Some people use drugs to feel pleasurable, stimulating, or relaxing effects. Others who experience anxiety, stress, depression, or pain may use drugs to try to feel better. Some people use drugs to try to improve their focus in school or at work or their abilities in sports. Many people—especially young people—use drugs out of curiosity and because of social pressure. The age at which people start using drugs—and whether or not they continue—depends on many different individual and societal factors across a person’s life. Read more about risk and protective factors that impact whether people use drugs or develop substance use disorders .

Some people who use drugs go on to develop substance use disorders or experience other harms . However, evidence-based prevention strategies can help people avoid substance use, substance use disorders, and related health and safety problems.

Why are some people more likely to develop substance use disorders?

What are substance use disorders what is addiction.

Substance use disorders are chronic, treatable medical conditions from which people can recover. They are defined in part by continued substance use despite negative outcomes. Substance use disorders may be diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe based on whether a person meets defined diagnostic criteria. Addiction is not a formal diagnosis, and the term is used in many ways. Some people use the term to describe some substance use disorders, especially more serious presentations.

While many people try drugs at some point in their lives and even continue to use them, only some people develop substance use disorders. No single factor determines whether a person will develop a substance use disorder. These chronic but treatable health conditions arise from the interplay of many different individual and societal factors across a person’s life 1 . Read more about risk and protective factors that impact whether people use drugs or develop substance use disorders .

Importantly, evidence-based prevention strategies can help people avoid substance use and substance use disorders. For those who do develop substance use disorders, safe and effective treatment can help.

Which risk and protective factors impact whether people use drugs or develop substance use disorders?

Risk factors for substance use and substance use disorders can include a person’s genes, other individual characteristics, and aspects of their social environment, and the impact of these factors can change at different stages of a person’s life. 1 Generally, the more risk factors a person has—such as early-life trauma, chronic stress, a family history of addiction, or peers who use drugs—the greater the chances that they will use substances and develop a substance use disorder. 2,3

But even in the presence of multiple risk factors, substance use and substance use disorders are not inevitable. Other factors can help protect someone from using substances and developing a substance use disorder. Protective factors include individual traits like optimism and environmental influences like healthy family and peer relationships and financial stability. 4  

It is important to note that many risk and protective factors are not a result of choices an individual person makes, but rather are a facet of their inherited genetics, family, life circumstances, and other aspects of their biology and environment. Better understanding these factors is critical to developing prevention strategies that lessen the impact of risk factors and bolster or introduce new protective factors. NIDA funds research to identify risk and protective factors and seek ways to prevent substance misuse and substance use disorders even when multiple risk factors are present. This includes the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®) and the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study , which  will inform our understanding of healthy development—including brain and cognitive development, and how drugs and other exposures affect it—and the HEAL Prevention Cooperative , which is supporting research to prevent opioid misuse and opioid use disorder among vulnerable adolescents and young adults. 

Examples of factors that may influence a person’s likelihood of drug use, misuse, or of developing a substance use disorder include:

Individual Factors

• Age at substance use initiation: Drug use at a young age can influence brain development and behavior in ways that increase the likelihood of going on to use other drugs and developing a substance use disorder. 5 Consequently, people who start to use substances as children and young adolescents are more likely to develop a substance use disorder than are those who first use substances in late adolescence or young adulthood. 6,7,8 For this reason, most prevention programs focus on preventing or delaying substance use in youth. Read more about prevention for young people .
• Genetics: Inherited biological factors can play a significant role in a person’s likelihood of using substances and of developing a substance use disorder. 2,10
• Other mental health problems: People with other mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other psychiatric conditions are also more likely to use substances and to develop substance use disorders. 4,11,12
• Biological sex: Factors related to biological sex—such as different brain structure and function, tissue composition, endocrine, and metabolic functions in males and females—can influence how a person responds to drugs. 13 For example, women use drugs less frequently and in smaller amounts than men, but they can experience the effects more strongly, and substance use in women tends to develop into addiction more quickly than in men. 14,15
• Personality : Individual characteristics such as risk-taking, sensation-seeking, aggression, or heightened responses to chronic stress can influence the likelihood of using substances and developing a substance use disorder. 16,17,18
• Specific types and patterns of drug use : Use of certain drugs such as opioids, nicotine, and methamphetamine is associated with a higher likelihood of developing a substance use disorder than is use of other drugs like psychedelics. 19,20 Similarly, injection drug use is more strongly associated with developing a substance use disorder, as more drug is delivered more rapidly to the brain than via other routes of administration. 21

Family Factors

• Family relationships : Research shows that growing up in a supportive, stable family environment versus one associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like trauma, abuse and neglect can impact a person’s likelihood of problem drug use and of developing substance use disorders later in life. 22,23 A higher level of parental involvement and young people’s perceptions that parents are aware of their activities have also been found to be protective. 24,25
• Parental substance use and attitudes : Whether parents use drugs or alcohol and their level of permissiveness or acceptance of substance use influence whether a child or adolescent is likely to use substances.  26,26

Community Factors

• School : Studies show certain aspects of a school environment—such as how often other students use drugs and how connected students feel to their classmates—can influence whether students use or avoid substances. 4 ,27
• Peers : Whether an individual’s peers use drugs or disapprove of substance use is a major influence on whether that individual will use substances, particularly during youth. 4 ,27
• Neighborhood : Research shows that living in a neighborhood with high levels of poverty or violence is associated with a higher likelihood of using substances. 25,27,28 Positive community relationships and environments have been associated with less substance use and less progression from substance use to substance use disorders. 29

Structural Factors

• Social: Stigma and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or other factors can cause chronic stress that makes someone more vulnerable to substance use and to developing substance use disorders. 30
• Economic: Growing up in a household or neighborhood with lower resources can affect children’s brain development in ways that may make them more vulnerable to future substance use disorders. 31 Housing insecurity and limited access to education and employment are also associated with substance use disorders. 32
• Laws and culture : Access to substances, 27 as well as the laws, policies, culture, norms, and attitudes surrounding their use in a society, can influence whether an individual uses substances and experiences related health problems including substance use disorders. 4

How can substance use and substance use disorders be prevented?

Researchers have been working for decades to better understand the factors that influence substance use and negative outcomes associated with it. 33 Results have led to the development of evidence-based interventions designed to prevent substance use and negative outcomes related to it. Read more about evidence-based prevention programs .

What are evidence-based prevention strategies? How are they delivered, and what kinds of activities do they include?

Evidence-based prevention programs are designed to prevent substance use and related negative outcomes. Most strategies are designed to be delivered in specific settings, to specific age groups, and to specific populations. Prevention programs may aim to:

• Reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors.
• Help people avoid or delay the onset of drug use.
• Stop substance use from progressing into higher-risk substance use or a substance use disorder.
• Reduce harms related to substance use and misuse, such as injuries or infections.

Prevention programs can be categorized as universal (broad approaches for the public or for everyone in a certain setting); selected (for individuals or groups with a known risk factor for substance use disorders), or indicated (for individuals with behaviors that indicate they may be at risk for substance use disorders). 34,35

Prevention programs are also typically designed to meet people’s needs at specific stages of life—the prenatal period, early childhood, adolescence, or adulthood—and in specific settings like family households, doctor’s offices, and communities. 36

• Family-based programs help parents and other caregivers access resources and skills associated with better substance use outcomes in children. 37,38,39   These may include, for example, the Nurse-Family Partnership, an intensive parenting skills intervention that provides home nurse visits for new and expecting parents, or parenting classes to teach caregivers about early child development and how to build warm, supportive relationships with children. Find out more about parent and caregiver resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), and from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, including the publication Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Substance Use Prevention .
• School-based programs help students develop social, emotional, cognitive, and substance-refusal skills and provide accurate information on drugs. 40,41 Such programs might provide children with social and emotional skills training , connect at-risk youth to positive mentors, or coordinate after-school activities. Examples include the Good Behavior Game and Classroom-Centered Intervention . See NIDA resources for parents and educators .
• Community-based programs engage community organizations and leaders to identify and address local-level risk factors for substance use and facilitate ways to lessen their impact. 42 This includes Communities that Care , which identifies and implements evidence-based interventions that best match a community’s needs and resources.   
• Population-specific programs help groups of people with shared circumstances or characteristics—such as housing status, ethnic and racial identity, sex and gender, or geographic location–overcome unique challenges and amplify unique strengths that may impact substance use outcomes. 43 For example, a program for young people experiencing homelessness may deliver housing, education, and health care to help counteract risk factors for new or worsening substance use.
• Prevention strategies in health-care settings help clinicians determine if patients may be at risk for substance use disorders and connect them to care and other services that can help ( Mitchell 2013 ). 44 This includes activities such as screening as part of a routine pediatric primary care visit. 45 NIDA provides  two evidence-based brief online screening tools  that providers can use to assess for substance use disorder (SUD) risk among adolescents 12-17 years old, the Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI) and the Brief Screener for Tobacco, Alcohol, and other Drugs (BSTAD). 
• Programs can also be tailored for workplaces and justice settings . For example, NIDA-funded research has investigated ways to reduce substance use in justice-involved youth in rural communities.

Read more about how NIDA is advancing the science on effective prevention strategies.

Are prevention programs a good return on investment?

Studies have shown that evidence-based prevention strategies have long-term, cost saving benefits for both personal and public health, with positive effects that last for generations. NIDA-supported research continues to evaluate the economic impact of prevention programs, how to optimize cost efficiency and effectiveness, and how to translate science into sound policy. In addition to promoting better health outcomes, well-managed prevention programs have been shown to be cost-effective and make good financial sense for several reasons :

• Substance use can lead to economic losses . Drug overdose, substance use disorders, and other complications of substance use often lead to profound losses for individuals, families, and communities. While some losses may be difficult to quantify, research shows substance use can lead to economic losses as well. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that opioid use disorder and opioid overdose alone cost the United States $1.02 trillion in 2017. 46  
• Greater investment in prevention could offset some of these costs . A study of one state health system found that more than 10 percent of the hospital costs incurred in 2019 (more than $327 million) were associated with adolescent high-risk behaviors, including substance use, that could be prevented through screening and referral to family-based prevention programs. 47  
• Impacts can be long lasting . A 2021 analysis of the Communities That Care prevention system, which helps communities utilize their resources most effectively to address identified risk factors, showed that an approximately $602 investment in each child (adjusted to 2017 dollars) yielded an estimated $7,754 in savings by the time participants were 23. 48 Further, research has shown that prevention interventions in early childhood, such as the Raising Healthy Children program, can have positive impacts on behavior and health outcomes for generations. 49  
• Prevention programs may benefit multiple health outcomes . Substance use disorders frequently co-occur with other mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The benefits of prevention for substance use disorders, particularly in early childhood, can extend to preventing other mental illnesses later in life. 43

How can harms related to substance use be prevented?

Many prevention strategies aim to prevent not only substance use and substance use disorders but other harms associated with drug use, such as drug overdoses, infectious diseases, or injuries. Some strategies aim to do so by preventing drug use directly. By contrast, harm reduction approaches seek to reduce certain health and safety issues associated with drug use 50 and to improve health and wellbeing during active drug use. Find more information on harm reduction .

How is NIDA advancing the science on substance use prevention?

NIDA funds research to understand risk and protective factors, to reduce risk factors and bolster protective factors, and to translate this understanding into evidence-based strategies and determine how best to implement and scale these strategies.

Developing and testing new, safe, effective, and sustainable strategies to prevent substance use or misuse and their progression to substance use disorders or other negative health effects is a key research priority for NIDA.

NIDA-supported prevention research adapts to address evolving situations like the current drug overdose crisis; equitable access to health care; and social and structural influences on health. NIDA research also aims to promote and to capitalize on advances in basic and behavioral sciences, data science, and technology.

NIDA also supports research to examine the social and economic impact of certain laws and policies in preventing substance use and its negative health effects. Together, this research helps policymakers and public health professionals make informed decisions to promote better health outcomes around substance use.

NIDA conducts and funds research with particular attention to:

• Identifying and targeting biological factors—like neural pathways in the brain—involved in the development of substance use and substance use disorders.
• Identifying risk and protective factors for substance use and misuse, substance use disorders, and related health and safety problems like overdose. This includes learning more about child and adolescent development through studies like the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®) and the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study to better understand the factors that influence substance use and related health problems.
• Enhancing people’s resilience and buffering against stressors to help prevent substance use and promote healthy behaviors across the lifespan.
• Developing strategies to prevent substance use and the progression of substance use to harmful use, to the use of multiple substances, and to a substance use disorder and other adverse health effects.
• Understanding why and how effective prevention approaches work and improving their uptake and reach. These includes integrating them into medical care, social services programs, communities, schools, and families.
• Developing tailored prevention strategies to help underserved or low-resource populations with risk factors for substance use and related health problems.
• Supporting research to evaluate effective harm reduction approaches, such as preventing and reversing drug overdoses as well as mitigating the spread of HIV and hepatitis .
• Addressing stigma towards people who use drugs. People who use drugs may face mistreatment, stereotyping, and negative bias from society, including in healthcare settings. These challenges may lead them to avoid seeking medical help, leading to a worsening of substance use disorders and raising the risk of related harms and overdoses. 16, 51,52
• Including local partners, end users, and potential funders in the research process, including the development and testing of potential strategies, and ways to communicate findings.

How can I help someone at risk for substance use or related health problems?

If you or someone you know may be at risk for substance use or health problems related to substance use, the following resources may help:

• If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.
• For referrals to substance use and mental health treatment programs, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit www.FindTreatment.gov .
• For more information about substance use disorder in children and adolescents, you may be interested in Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Substance Use Prevention , a publication from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Education.
• You can find more parent and caregiver resources on substance use prevention from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counselling, or referral services. Learn more.

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Find more resources on prevention.

• Access the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration publication, Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide to Substance Use Prevention .
• Find more parent and caregiver resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).
• Search for more SAMSHA publications on substance use prevention.
• Learn more about primary prevention efforts in the Overdose Prevention Strategy from the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Read more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on preventing youth substance use and creating Drug-Free Communities .
• See the latest news from the NIDA-supported National Drug Early Warning System , which seeks to detect new and emerging substance use patterns to prevent related threats to public health.
• Browse NIDA substance use prevention resources for Parents and Educators and learn more about NIDA’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® .
• Volkow ND, Boyle M. Neuroscience of Addiction: Relevance to Prevention and Treatment . Am J Psychiatry. 2018;175(8):729-740. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17101174
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• Santucci K. Psychiatric disease and drug abuse . Curr Opin Pediatr. 2012;24(2):233-237. doi:10.1097/MOP.0b013e3283504fbf
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• Becker JB, McClellan ML, Reed BG. Sex differences, gender and addiction . J Neurosci Res. 2017;95(1-2):136-147. doi:10.1002/jnr.23963
• Substance Abuse Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables, SAMHSA . Accessed January 2023.
• Rabinowitz JA, Reboussin BA, Thrul J, et al. Early Childhood Behavioral and Academic Antecedents of Lifetime Opioid Misuse among Urban Youth . J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2022;51(6):864-876. doi:10.1080/15374416.2021.1875324
• Brumback T, Thompson W, Cummins K, Brown S, Tapert S. Psychosocial predictors of substance use in adolescents and young adults: Longitudinal risk and protective factors . Addict Behav. 2021;121:106985. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106985
• Bevilacqua L, Hale D, Barker ED, Viner R. Conduct problems trajectories and psychosocial outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;27(10):1239-1260. doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1053-4
• Lopez-Quintero C, Pérez de los Cobos J, Hasin DS, et al. Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) . Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;115(1-2):120-130. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.004
• Anthony JC, Warner LA, Kessler RC. Comparative epidemiology of dependence on tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, and inhalants: basic findings from the National Comorbidity Survey . Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 1994;2(3):244-268. doi:10.1037/1064-1297.2.3.244.
• Strang J, Bearn J, Farrell M, et al. Route of drug use and its implications for drug effect, risk of dependence and health consequences . Drug Alcohol Rev. 1998;17(2):197-211. doi:10.1080/09595239800187001
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• Burlew, A.K., Johnson, C.S., Flowers, A.M. et al. Neighborhood Risk, Parental Supervision and the Onset of Substance Use among African American Adolescents . J Child Fam Stud 18, 680–689 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-009-9273-y
• Rusby JC, Light JM, Crowley R, Westling E. Influence of parent-youth relationship, parental monitoring, and parent substance use on adolescent substance use onset . J Fam Psychol. 2018;32(3):310-320. doi:10.1037/fam0000350
• Nargiso JE, Ballard EL, Skeer MR. A systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with nonmedical use of prescription drugs among youth in the United States: a social ecological perspective [published correction appears in J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2015 Mar;76(2):348]. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2015;76(1):5-20.
• Reboussin BA, Ialongo NS, Green KM, Furr-Holden DM, Johnson RM, Milam AJ. The Impact of the Urban Neighborhood Environment on Marijuana Trajectories During Emerging Adulthood . Prev Sci. 2019;20(2):270-279. doi:10.1007/s11121-018-0915-4
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• Hawkins JD, Oesterle S, Brown EC, Abbott RD, Catalano RF. Youth problem behaviors 8 years after implementing the communities that care prevention system: a community-randomized trial . JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(2):122-129. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4009
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United Nations

Office on drugs and crime.

• World Drug Day

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

“The evidence is clear: invest in prevention”

The global drug problem presents a multifaceted challenge that touches the lives of millions worldwide. From individuals struggling with substance use disorders to communities grappling with the consequences of drug trafficking and organized crime, the impact of drugs is far-reaching and complex. Central to addressing this challenge is the imperative to adopt a scientific evidence-based approach that prioritizes prevention and treatment.

The  International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking , or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. This year’s World Drug Day campaign recognizes that effective drug policies must be rooted in science, research, full respect for human rights, compassion, and a deep understanding of the social, economic, and health implications of drug use.

Together, let us amplify our efforts to combat the global drug problem, guided by the principles of science, compassion, and solidarity. Through collective action and a commitment to evidence-based solutions, we can create a world where individuals are empowered to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

This year’s World Drug Day is a call to:

• Raise awareness: Increase understanding of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of evidence-based prevention strategies, emphasizing their impact on mitigating the harms of drug use.
• Advocate for investment: Encourage greater investment in prevention efforts by governments, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals, highlighting the long-term benefits of early intervention and prevention.
• Empower communities: Equip communities with the tools and resources to implement evidence-based prevention initiatives, fostering resilience against drug use and promoting community-led solutions.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration: Promote dialogue and collaboration between stakeholders to enhance evidence-based prevention practices and policies, fostering a supportive environment for knowledge sharing and innovation.
• Promote evidence-based policymaking: Advocate for evidence-based policymaking at the national and international levels, ensuring that drug policies are grounded in scientific research and informed by best practices.
• Engage communities: Raise awareness about the importance of community engagement and participation in designing and implementing effective drug prevention programs, empowering communities to take ownership of prevention efforts.
• Empower youth: Provide youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become agents of change in their communities, advocating for drug prevention initiatives and amplifying their voices in the conversation.
• Promote international cooperation: Foster international cooperation and collaboration among governments, organizations, and communities to develop and implement evidence-based strategies for combating drug trafficking and organized crime, recognizing the global nature of the drug problem and the need for coordinated action.

World Drug Report

Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report, full of key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources, a science-based approach, and research. This year’s report will be launched on 26 June.

WORLD DRUG REPORT

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The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

FACT SHEET: White   House Releases 2022 National Drug Control Strategy that Outlines Comprehensive Path Forward to Address Addiction and the Overdose   Epidemic

Today, President Biden sent his Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy to Congress at a time when drug overdoses have taken a heartbreaking toll, claiming 106,854 lives in the most recent 12-month period. The Strategy delivers on the call to action in President Biden’s Unity Agenda through a whole-of-government approach to beat the overdose epidemic.

The Strategy focuses on two critical drivers of the epidemic: untreated addiction and drug trafficking. It instructs federal agencies to prioritize actions that will save lives, get people the care they need, go after drug traffickers’ profits, and make better use of data to guide all these efforts.

Addressing Untreated Addiction for Those At-Risk of an Overdose According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among the 41.1 million people who needed treatment for substance use disorders (SUD), only 2.7 million (6.5-percent) of them received treatment at a specialty treatment facility over the previous year. One reason for this gap is that people with addiction and those who care for them face too many barriers to treatment. Similarly, key tools like naloxone and syringe services programs are often restricted or underfunded at the community level, which limits access for people who use drugs. For example, some states still have legal barriers that limit access to naloxone, and even in states where those barriers don’t exist, naloxone does not always make it to those most at-risk of an overdose. The President’s National Drug Control Strategy is the first-ever to champion harm reduction to meet people where they are and engage them in care and services. It also calls for actions that will expand access to evidence-based treatments that have been shown to reduce overdose risk and mortality. Finally, it emphasizes the need to develop stronger data collection and analysis systems to better deploy public health interventions.

• Expand high-impact harm reduction interventions like naloxone The Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts focus on meeting people where they are, and building trust and engagement with them to provide care and services. Specifically, the Strategy calls for greater access to harm reduction interventions including naloxone, drug test strips, and syringe services programs. It directs federal agencies to integrate harm reduction into the U.S system of care to save lives and increase access to treatment. It also calls for collaboration on harm reduction between public health and public safety officials, and changes in state laws and policies to support the expansion of harm reduction efforts across the country.
• Ensure those at highest-risk of an overdose can access evidence-based treatment The Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand access to treatment are focused around delivering treatment to those at the highest-risk of overdosing, which includes people experiencing homelessness, those who are incarcerated or re-entering society, and people who inject drugs. The Strategy directs federal agencies to take actions that meet people who need treatment where they are, improves the quality of treatment to include payment reform, supports those at-risk of an overdose, and builds up the Nation’s treatment workforce and infrastructure. It also includes a chapter on Criminal Justice that focuses on direct actions that will improve the delivery of evidence-based treatment when appropriate for people in carceral settings or in the reentry process in addition to other justice-impacted persons.
• Improve data systems and research that guide drug policy development. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to deploying an evidence-based approach to policy-making as directed in the Presidential Memorandum on scientific integrity and evidence-based policymaking. Development of effective drug policy requires timely and rigorous data covering the full range of trends and activities, including consumption patterns, drug use consequences, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, drug production, transportation and distribution by drug trafficking organizations, and many more. The Strategy directs relevant agencies to strengthen existing data systems, establish new data systems, including for non-fatal overdoses, and enhance the usefulness of drug data for practitioners, researchers and policy-makers.

Going After Drug Trafficking and Illicit Drug Profits Law enforcement agencies at all levels—federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial—work to reduce domestic and international cultivated and synthetic drug production and trafficking with the goal of protecting Americans. However, drug producers continue to produce entirely new synthetic drugs, and drug traffickers continue to refine their methods and techniques for distributing them throughout our communities.

The Strategy builds on the President’s FY 23 budget request for a $300 million increase to support the work of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)–one of the largest ever increases for CBP–and for a $300 million increase for the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Strategy prioritizes a targeted response to drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) by hitting them where it hurts the most: their wallets. It also includes efforts to strengthen domestic law enforcement cooperation to disrupt the trafficking of illicit drugs within the United States, and increase collaboration with international partners to disrupt the supply chain of illicit substances and the precursor chemicals used to produce them. Lastly, the National Drug Control Strategy includes three companion documents that direct Federal agencies to take actions that stop the trafficking of drugs across our Caribbean, Northern, and Southwest Borders.

• Obstruct and disrupt financial activities of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that manufacture illicit drugs and traffic them into the United States The illicit drugs smuggled throughout the world generate enormous revenue, which must be moved and laundered so that traffickers can profit from their illicit enterprise.TCOs also require funds to operate their illicit supply chains and exert their transnational corruptive influence. While bulk cash smuggling remains one of the predominant methods for moving illicit proceeds, smugglers also use trade-based money laundering (TBML) such as Black-Market Peso Exchanges and mirror transfers via informal networks. Additionally, TCOs are adept at using darknet markets and virtual assets to launder funds. The National Drug Control Strategy directs agencies to strengthen and employ every available tool, and seek new ones, to uncover financial networks to obstruct and disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund the TCOs who produce and traffic illicit drugs into the United States.
• Reduce the supply of illicit drugs through domestic collaboration and international coordination. The Strategy directs federal agencies to improve cooperation across all levels of government to strengthen our domestic response to drug trafficking; commercially disrupt the production, trafficking, and distribution of illicit substances; improve assessment of supply reduction initiatives; and protect individuals and the environment at home from criminal exploitation. The Strategy also aims to strengthen foreign partnerships to address drug production and trafficking, leverage the influence of multilateral organizations to tackle shared challenge of synthetic drugs, and protect individuals and the environment abroad from criminal exploitation by those involved in drug trafficking.
• Reduce the supply of illicit drugs smuggled across our borders. The Biden-Harris Administration is focused on stopping drugs from entering our communities. The President’s National Drug Control Strategy includes specific border strategies that direct federal agencies to strengthen interdiction and law enforcement capabilities on our Nation’s borders, counter criminal networks, disrupt illicit finance efforts, target drug transportation routes and modalities, and otherwise aggressively reduce the trafficking of illicit drugs. The Strategy also directs agencies to work with partner governments in drug producing and transit countries to prevent illicit drugs from ever reaching our borders.

In addition, the Strategy directs federal agencies to expand efforts to prevent substance use among school-aged children and young adults, and support community-led coalitions implementing evidence-based prevention strategies across the country. It directs federal agencies to expand scientific understanding of the recovery process by establishing a federal recovery research agenda; adopt flexible, responsive approaches that help people with SUD find and follow a pathway to recovery or remission that works for them; and eliminate barriers and increase economic opportunities for people in recovery. And the Strategy includes specific actions to improve access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs for jails and prisons; identify ways to advance racial equity in the investigation, arrest, and sentencing for drug related offenses without negatively impacting public safety; divert non-violent individuals from the criminal justice system and juvenile justice systems to treatment when appropriate; and remove barriers and expand supportive  services to help reintegrate people into society after incarceration.

The Biden-Harris Administration has already taken significant actions to address addiction and the overdose epidemic based on the President’s Drug Policy Priorities for Year One .

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