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What Is Primary Prevention? |
Primary Prevention
Primary prevention aims to improve the safety and wellbeing of all young people before they are in trouble.
Primary prevention focuses on…
…Families, to:
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Strengthen parenting skills: communication, discipline, firm and consistent rule making, and role modeling.
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Help parents to open lines of communication with their kids.
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Educate parents about the extent and consequences of children’s abuse of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
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Establish networks among parents to develop consensus about parties, curfews, and other rules governing kids’ social activities.
…Young people, to:
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Teach communication skills.
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Teach tolerance.
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Teach resistance skills from a young age to develop confidence about refusing dangerous behaviors.
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Instill healthy responsibility for oneself and friends.
…Schools, to:
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Deepen student ties to school by fostering student leadership, achievement, and contributions.
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Support student role-modeling and peer mentoring programs.
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Help kids build positive relationships with peers.
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Strengthen student bonds with teachers, coaches, and club advisors and integrate a message of healthy and safe choices into all school activities.
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Create a bullying/harassment-free environment, so all kids feel confident.
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Provide factual education to help children understand the negative physical, psychological, and social effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
…the Community, to:
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Create an environment in which kids have less opportunity to make bad decisions.
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Involve civic, religious, law enforcement, and governmental agencies in promoting drug-, alcohol-, and tobacco-free behaviors among young people.
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Enhance anti-drug, pro-social norms and behaviors through new legislation and better enforcement of existing laws.