A range of ways by which drug epidemiology and etiology can and should
influence the field of drug use prevention is reviewed. Relevant empi
rical findings are presented on national drug use trends, explanatory
variables, population exposure to various prevention efforts, and resp
ondent evaluations of them. Particular attention is paid to in-school
prevention efforts and the national ad campaign run by the Partnership
for a Drug-Free America. The national data on adolescents derive from
the Monitoring the Future study.