There are many different prevention strategies. Awareness and education, as well as alternative activities are all part of the spectrum. Many of these programs are oriented toward learning why young people use drugs, how to help them say no, and alternatives to drug use rather than teaching them about the drugs themselves. There are many different options—choose the one that is right for you or design one of your own.

We have included examples of six model programs in this booklet. There are many more, which you can find out about by using our resource list or doing some research on your own. Adapt any of them to your own needs, or invent your own program that is geared to your community and the resources of your Explorer post. We chose programs that were low in cost, but there are others that you can do if you have access to some money. There are curriculum guides, films and videotapes, puppet shows, and publications that can be purchased or, in some cases, rented for use in your drug abuse prevention program.

Learning for Life (LFL) Crime Prevention Program

Goals and Objectives:
To use the collective resources of LFL youth and adult participants, parents, participating organizations, law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations, and local offices to fight crime.

Activities:
Youth activities involve all LFL programs and use existing LFL materials and resources. Character education activities help youth learn to settle arguments with words, not weapons, report crime and get involved in making neighborhoods safe.

Family activities involve youth participants discussing violence and violent activities with their parents and demonstrating basic safety and crime prevention techniques.

Community activities stress working with national, state and local law enforcement agencies in programs such as setting up neighborhood crime watch systems and organizing safety projects for elementary school children.

Post activities include conducting a special parents night, working with local agencies and organizations, monitoring youth participation in crime prevention projects, and distributing appropriate recognitions.

Contact:
Learning for Life Office, www.learning-for-life.org

Youth to Youth International

Goals and Objectives:
To teach youth that it is okay not to be involved with drug and alcohol use.

Activities:
Youth to Youth International is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and has programs in 35 states and 13 countries. The Youth to Youth philosophy is based on the influence of positive peer support, and helping other teens choose and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. The program is teen-centered and teaches the development of leadership and life skills as well as giving ideas for fun alternative activities. The program sponsors a series of summer conferences and provides drug-free educational items for youth.

Contact:
Youth to Youth International
700 Bryden Road
Columbus, OH 43215
614-224-4506
email: general@y2yint.com

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)

Goals and Objectives:
Dedicated to addressing the issues of underage drinking, impaired driving, drug use, and other destructive decisions that are killers of young people.

Activities:
SADD is a peer leadership organization dedicated to preventing underage drinking and drug use by focusing attention on the potentially life threatening consequences of destructive decisions involving issues such as not wearing a safety belt, smoking, steroid use, violence, sexually transmitted diseases and suicide. SADDs mission is to provide students with the best prevention and intervention tools possible to deal with the serious issues young adults are facing today. Some SADD chapters sponsor different model programs such as STAND (Students Taking a New Direction) for middle school students and Peer Resistance Skills for high school students.

Contact:
SADD National
Box 800
Marlboro, MA 01752
800-787-5777
www.saddonline.com or www.sadd.org

Puppet Show

Goals and Objectives:
To present drug abuse information to young people in an entertaining fashion.

Activities:
Both the Kids on the Block and BABES (Beginning Alcohol and Addiction Basic Education Studies) utilize puppets to transmit drug abuse prevention and education information. The Kids on the Block company has a package that consists of five scripts, props, follow-up activities and resources to form a comprehensive curriculum on the topic. Script material includes information about alcohol and other drugs, peer pressure and learning how to make choices, the negative effects of tobacco use and the difference between good medicine and illegal drugs. Babesworld is a K-12 curriculum which offers a total systems approach to the development of healthy living skills. It utilizes a variety of group-building, motivational, and instructional approaches to reach youth, families, schools, media, and community organizations with programs.

Contact:

The Kids on the Block, Inc. 9385 C Gerwig Lane Columbia, MD 21046-1583 FAX 410-290-9358

BABESWorld 33 East Forest Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 313-833-3962

Operation Snowball

Goals and Objectives:
Operation Snowball is a support system for youth and adults, providing community-based prevention and health activities with an emphasis on youth involvement.

Activities:
Operation Snowball is an ongoing youth and adult cooperative process focusing on prevention and founded on the belief that every person has the capacity to make sound decisions regarding life and behavior based on accurate information and an understanding of self, attitudes, and motivations. Activities include staff development/training, events, leadership skills training, and follow-up educational and support programs for communities. Such activities should be designed and delivered by youth and adults together in response to community needs.

Contact:
Operation Snowball
937 S. Second Street
Springfield, IL 62704
800-252-6301

Teens in Prevention

Goals and Objectives:
Develop and maintain a collaborative of community agencies that seek and implement solutions to substance abuse, violence, and its related problems.

Activities:
This youth-driven, school-based network focuses on individual responsibility, positive peer pressure, and community mobilization to impact attitudes, beliefs, and behavior that leads to the reduction of substance abuse and violence.

Contact:
Demand Reduction Coordinator
Drug Enforcement Administration
El Paso Field Division
660 N. Mesa Hills Suite 2000
El Paso, TX 79912
915-832-6233

Copyright © 2002 by Learning for Life
http://www.learning-for-life.org