college of development communication

College of Development Communication

• Name ways of preventingsubstance abuse among youngpeople.

• Give examples of primaryprevention approaches that can beused in your community.

• Name settings where preventionactivities can take place.

By the end of this module, you shouldbe able to:


• Target young peoplebefore they start usingsubstances.

• Discourage or stop usein those young peoplewho are alreadyexperimenting or using.


• “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound ofcure.”

• Primary prevention is less expensive thancure.

• Primary prevention is the first line of defense.


• Primary prevention cantake place in thecommunity.

• The success rate oftreatment is low.

• Primary prevention is funand promotes academicexcellence.


• Implies that people have the capacity to influence their own health and quality of lifewhen empowered with the appropriate means,skills or information.


�Young people should begiven the necessaryknowledge, skills andresources; and be exposedto positive attachments.


�Environment can increaseor decrease the risks forsubstance abuse amongyoung people. Promotingsafe and supportiveenvironments includespromoting positive socialnorms.


• Alternative activities andyouth groups

• Positive attachments

• Resources

• Family

• Local community

• Orienting services towardsyoung people


• Discuss feelings, valuesand self-awareness.


• Enhance performancerelated vocational andlivelihood skills.


• Provide interesting recreational activities.


• Encouragepositiveattachments.


• Strengthen parent-childcommunication.


• Mobilize the localcommunity for action.


• Parent education• Parent/family skills

training• Parent peer group• Parent self-help groups• Parent involvement in

primary preventionactivities


• Teaching interpersonal,personal/cognitive andvocational/performanceskills

• Providing information onconsequences of substanceabuse

• Peer counseling


• Using games and interactiveeducational tools

• Adding substance use topics tocurriculum


• Public awarenesscampaigns

• Alternative activities forthe youth

• Re-orientation andvocational training for theyouth


• The workplace and othersocial settings can beimportant locations toaddress substance useproblems.


• Primary prevention ofsubstance abuse amongyoung people can only beeffective when acomprehensive approachencompassing a variety ofactivities is used.


• Primary preventioninitiatives should be carriedout in a variety of settingssuch as within families,within the schools and inother places that areaccessible to young people.


• To be effective, collaborationbetween different sectors ofsociety is crucial.


college of development communication

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