This wide-ranging handbook brings together experts in the sociology of drug abuse prevention. Providing a comprehensive overview of the accumulated knowledge on prevention theory, intervention design, and development and prevention research methodology, this work also promotes prevention science as an evolving field in the practice and policy of drug abuse prevention.

Proceedings of a conference sponsored by the Nat. Institutes of Health in Wash., DC, Sep. 19-20, 1996. Research and community practitioners worked together to review the research on drug abuse prevention; explored its ramifications for individuals, families, and communities; and developed recommendations for future collaborations and applications of this knowledge in settings across the country. Keynote addresses were given by Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D., Sec. of Health and Human Services, and Gen. Barry Barry R. McCaffrey, Dir. of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Includes a list of conference speakers and panel and work group participants.

Illustrates the value of combining findings from specific high-quality primary research studies into a cohesive summary that better defines what the science of drug abuse prevention offers to guide future program decisionmaking. Presents a current overview of the efficacy of drug abuse prevention programs (DAPG) and related measurement systems. Defines the techniques employed in meta-analysis of DAPG. Provides guidance in the application of research findings from meta-analysis. Discusses key technical procedures that should be considered in conducting future meta-analysis of drug abuse prevention research.

Ever since the Shanghai convention in 1909, the threat posed to human well-being by drug abuse has led countries around the world to take action to deal with their drug problems. There are wide variations in the policies pursued, but most countries try to reduce both the supply of and the demand for drugs. Unfortunately, there is little research consensus on the respective merits of these two approaches or about the best ways to pursue them. Consequently, control and prevention policies are mostly driven by political considerations, economic realities and cultural expectations, though research has played an important part in formulating and evaluating treatments for drug addiction. This volume reviews studies on drug abuse prevention and treatment strategies under five main areas: 1. Reducing supply - strategies to control the flow of drugs from production to retail distribution; 2. Reducing demand - prevention of drug use at all stages of involvement and consumption levels; 3. Reducing harm - promoting situational risk reduction practices for regular users, addicts and recreational users; 4. Reducing addiction - drug treatment options for various groups in various settings; and 5. Drug policies and prescriptions - focused on debates about prohibition and legalization.