Special series: Empirically based prevention and treatment approaches for adolescent and young adult substance use - Introduction

This is the lead article in a special series of papers on the prevention an d treatment of adolescent and young-adult substance use. We introduce three studies that provide preliminary evidence for successful approaches to (a) smoking cessation or reduction among adolescent substance abusers (Myers, Brown, & Kelly, 2000), (b) reducing alcohol use among high-risk college stu dents (Dimeff & McNeely, 2000) and (c) reducing or preventing drug use, dri nking, and driving after drinking among high school students (D'Amico & Fro mme, 2000). All three approaches are brief tone to six sessions), share a c ognitive-behavioral theoretical basis, and have been examined in controlled trials. This article addresses commonalities among the three programs and describes future directions for prevention efforts among these age groups.