Substance abuse among school age youth continues to be a significant and costly problem in U.S. society. Schools are asked with increasing frequency to become involved in finding and implementing solutions. A review of the literature regarding school-based substance abuse prevention programs reveals their evolution from a basic informational approach in the 1960s to approaches in the 1990s that are designed to help youth develop effective coping skills. The latter approaches are based on the assumption that substance abuse is learned socially. Empirical evidence reveals that current approaches are more effective than earlier ones were in preventing substance abuse among youth. School district personnel need to become aware of the nature of the more successful substance abuse prevention programs and build the designs for their programs on the characteristics of these programs. This paper contributes to that awareness by summarizing the most significant characteristics of effective programs as currently described in the relevant literature. After reviewing the characteristics of particularly effective school-based substance abuse programs, the literature concludes that a broad and coordinated prevention approach is needed. Substance abuse prevention programs that involve schools working with civic organizations and institutions, law enforcement officials, parents, peers, and even the media may have a greater impact than programs implemented only in the schools. Contains a 17-item reference list. (Author/DK)