This paper chronicles the development of the New Zealand-based Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Education (FADE) and critically reviews this development. FADE's objectives deal with preventing and reducing the use of alcohol and other drugs by young people. FADE chose to operate separately from traditional governmental and nongovernmental alcohol and other drug prevention agencies. Its stated areas of responsibility were: (1) production of educational materials; (2) assistance to schools; (3) communication to the public; (4) development of primary prevention strategies; and (5) documentation of alcohol and other drug use among New Zealand teenagers. This review discusses the significant tensions that arose between FADE and its various constituencies over the course of FADE's development and the consequences of those tensions. FADE provided new approaches to old problems; learning from these approaches can expand the body of knowledge of health education practices. Tensions recognized as creative and dynamic forces can effect change in positive ways. (IAH)