As the national war on drugs continues, children and youth are told to "just say no" but are seldom given the information and skills to sort out the mixed signals coming from peers, adults, and the mass media. This guidebook presents examples of three approaches to community "storytelling" projects through which children and youth can explore conflicting information and feelings about the use of drugs and alcohol. These examples are drawn from projects in rural, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities. Participatory research is a process in which the people affected by an issue or problem develop the information to support action. They learn new skills, undertake the necessary research, and come to their own conclusions. Activities for applying participatory research to substance abuse study include brainstorming, researching drug effects, simple surveys, community surveys, and developing a local resource guide. Cultural journalism can contribute to understanding by looking for both the roots and the cure of substance abuse within personal and collective histories. Activities include private reflection, group discussion, oral history interviews, and shaping the story in written form. Experiential writing activities encourage students to express their own experiences and must take place in a safety zone that guards confidentiality and supports the generation of ideas. This booklet contains 77 references and additional resources. (SV)