PREVENTION RESEARCH FOR ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS - A LOOK-AHEAD TO WHAT IS NEEDED

The misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is a problem with seri ous health and social consequences worldwide. The causes of this misus e are complex and multifaceted. For an examination of these complex is sues we must look to a variety of risk factors, from those that are bi ological, to those that are psychological, social, and familial, and o n to those that encompass the environment. Prevention research has sho wn that successful prevention interventions are those which appropriat ely target these factors in individuals at risk and overcome them by e nhancing individuals' resiliency and providing them with protective fa ctors. While several important and successful preventive interventions have been identified, research is needed to refine these strategies a nd identify how they achieve their effects, which are most appropriate for youngsters at different developmental stages, and which are most likely to sustain their effects over time.