The most effective interventions to prevent adolescent drug abuse

interventions based in educational settings were the most effective, particularly when elements of personal feedback, goal setting and moderation strategies were included.

Family-based interventions had a “small but persistent” effect, researchers stated. And computer-delivered interventions were found to reduce both the quantity and frequency of alcohol abuse among college students.

Researchers analyzed two systematic reviews that focused on school-based interventions related to drug use among adolescents and that combined social competence and social influence approaches, such as anti-drug information along with social skill building techniques related to refusal and self-management. Programs that combine several different approaches were shown to reduce marijuana and alcohol use among adolescents, researchers stated.