This document presents a revised set of principles for school drug education. The principles for drug education in schools comprise an evolving framework that has proved useful over a number of decades in guiding the development of effective drug education. The first edition of "Principles for Drug Education in Schools" (Ballard et al. 1994) has provided a strong foundation for school drug education within Australia. "Principles for School Drug Education" (2004) has been prepared in response to emerging needs and outcomes of research in drug education and curriculum practice. Like the 1994 document, the 2004 Principles will be updated in response to future developments and professional feedback. This document has been structured so that it can be used in different ways depending on needs and interest. Section 1, Overview and summary, provides a brief outline of the Principles, summarising the key themes and concepts. The 12 Principles are set out in summary over a double page for ease of use. Section 2, The Principles, key considerations and evidence base, provides the Principles in detail. Here each Principle is accompanied by a list of key considerations for its use, and an accompanying one-page summary of the evidence base that underpins it. The latter is a summary of key research findings that provide the current evidence base from which the Principle derives. (Contains 2 diagrams.) [This paper was written with Helen Cahill.]