On any given day, over 100,000 youth are held in custody in juvenile justice facilities across the country, either awaiting trial in detention centers or having been placed in residential facilities after being convicted of delinquencies. A growing body of research suggests that most of these youth meet criteria for at least one mental disorder,…

The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) is Partnership for a Drug Free America's (PDFA) unique contribution to the field of substance abuse prevention. An annual study that tracks the attitudes consumers have about illegal drugs, this research examines what PDFA's target audiences think and feel about various drugs. After a decade of rising…

The use of anabolic steroids is on the increase among athletes as well as other segments of the population. Data from the "Monitoring the Future" study showed a significant increase from 1998 to 1999 in steroid abuse among middle school students. During the same year, there was a decline in the percentage of 12th graders who believed…

Selecting an effective prevention program for a comprehensive intervention can be a daunting task. Not only must the program address the specific needs and assets of the defined population, but also there should be a level of confidence about its ability to produce positive outcomes regardless of differing settings and differing populations. The…

This guide presents a capacity building framework and process for demonstrating and documenting prevention outcomes. Achieving Outcomes was developed by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) in response to requests from the prevention field for guidance in selecting and implementing science-based prevention programs. The guide is…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is responsible for identifying and disseminating scientifically defensible knowledge about proven prevention models and principles to the substance abuse prevention field. This booklet is intended to assist prevention practitioners and…

Parents and guardians have a tremendous influence on the attitudes and behavior of their children, especially when it comes to substance abuse. Information and referrals to assist parents and guardians, as well as information and resources for prevention specialists and community leaders, are provided in this resource guide. The guide was compiled…

This paper summarizes similarities and differences between two cohorts of the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES) clients, those age 45 or older and those younger than 45. Results reveal the following: Clients in the 45+ cohort were considerably more likely to be treated for problems with alcohol or with heroin, and they were…

This publication answers questions about the consequences of abusing commonly prescribed medications including opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. In addition to offering information on what research says about how certain medications affect the brain and body, this publication also discusses treatment options. It examines…

This book is designed to provide students, at differing levels of experience and training, with examples that illustrate the problems individuals have with various psychopathologies. Stories are included to illustrate the key elements of psychopathology for these disorders, and are written from the point of view of both the individual who has the…

This investigation reports the development of a measure of adolescent connectedness and estimates of its psychometric properties. A measure was developed to assess the ecological and developmental dimensions of adolescent connectedness, defined as adolescents' caring for and involvement in specific relationships and contexts within their social…

When working with individuals who are struggling with substance abuse, counselors must clearly define for themselves their values regarding the use of substances. It is vital that counselors not allow personal issues surrounding substance abuse to influence the work they do with their clients. This paper presents several ways in which to…

Children's experience at home is the largest single factor in whether or not they will have a drug or alcohol problem early in life. The best prevention program for many people at risk is to make sure their addicted family member receives appropriate treatment. Several steps need to take place to enhance the family's role in preventing alcohol or…

The media play an increasingly strong role in transmitting values; behaviors; social norms; attitudes; and knowledge to youth and adults. Media literacy involves the ability to ask questions about what is watched, heard, or read. It involves learning what to look for, what to ask, and how to question these many influences. Media literacy also…

Substance abuse has long been recognized as a precipitating factor in many domestic violence incidents. The main type of substance abuse is alcohol usage. Forty-six percent of the offenders reported being dependent on or abusing alcohol, while another 28% were found to be dependent on opiates, cocaine, marijuana, or inhalants. Nearly two-fifths of…