Prevention strategies

This is because young people are going through significant social, physiological and developmental changes. In this phase of their life, prevention strategies have the potential to positively influence behaviour that will last through their adult years.

Why focus on primary prevention for young people?

Many young people go through a developmental period where they experience an increase in freedom and a decrease in social monitoring.¹ This is also a time where some young people begin experimenting with alcohol and other drugs.¹ Primary prevention is a strategy that can address the risk factors associated with early age alcohol and other drug use, as well as enhance the protective factors.^{2, 3}

Primary prevention can help people avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs, delay or reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs, or avoid the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs.⁴ This is done through either influencing individuals’ personal behaviours or changing environmental conditions to reduce the potential for certain behaviours to develop.⁴

Primary prevention strategies aim to support the safe and healthy development of young people.⁵ There are several primary prevention strategies that can be used to reduce harm from alcohol and other drug use among young people, including:

• evidence-based AOD education programs
• health promotion and community development initiatives, and
• reducing the supply of alcohol and other drugs through legislation, regulation and policy.⁴

It is crucial that communities follow evidence-based examples when implementing primary prevention strategies targeting young people.⁶ Research continues to identify the components that result in effective prevention strategies.⁵ This highlights the need for comprehensive and robust evaluation of programs where possible. When information is shared on the key elements of successful primary prevention programs, there will be a better understanding of what works best.²

Risk and protective factors:

Alcohol and other drug harms are influenced by a range of modifiable factors that are likely to predict or prevent substance use during adolescence.⁷

Risk factors

Risk factors can increase the likelihood of a young person using alcohol and other drugs or experiencing harm from alcohol and other drug use.⁷ Examples of risk factors are:

• living in a household or community where alcohol or other drugs are readily available ^{8, 9}
• parental substance use ^{1, 10, 11}
• favourable parental attitudes toward substance use ^{1, 11}
• family dysfunction ^{1, 7, 11}
• associating with peers who have favourable attitudes toward alcohol and other drugs ^{12, 13}
• school failure. ^{1, 7, 14}

Protective factors

Protective factors interact with risk factors in complex ways. They may moderate the

influence of risk factors to reduce the likelihood of AOD use in young people, delay the uptake of AOD use in young people, and reduce harm should young people engage in AOD use.⁷ Examples of protective factors are:

• parental supervision and communication ^{13, 15}
• participation in supervised leisure activities ^{13, 16}
• social and emotional competence ⁷
• sense of belonging/connectedness to community, school and family ¹⁷
• participation in positive activities with adult engagement ^{17, 18}

It should be noted that these risk and protective factors only indicate the likelihood of alcohol and other drug use and related harms occurring.⁷

Key components for success

Community involvement

The local community plays a significant role in facilitating or contributing to effective prevention strategies.

National and international evidence highlights the effectiveness and importance of community engagement in preventing harms from

alcohol and other drugs. This is especially the case in high-risk populations such as young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, migrant communities, and low socioeconomic communities.^19-22

It is critical that community programs ensure the focus of the program is relevant to the needs of the community.^{6, 23} Community engagement in program planning, design and implementation helps to increase awareness of alcohol and other drug harms. This is an essential component for ensuring community support and participation.

Community ownership

Community-led programs strengthen the capacity of the community to identify, prevent, and respond to health issues in a population.⁷ Fostering a sense of community ownership is key to engagement and participation in community-led programs. It acknowledges that gathering resources and knowledge, as well as coordinating with multiple agencies or sectors, are elements for success.

This collaborative approach is important for long term effectiveness in programs.²³