We misunderstand substance use prevention. We think of it just as a way to protect someone or stop something. When we have that mindset, we tend to focus on avoiding the things that are harmful, saying “Stay away from it” or “Don’t do it”, for instance. Even when the intention is noble, the actions are ineffective and even tend to be counterproductive; just an order with no explanation or resources to follow, it is like trying to blindfold someone in a maze. Therefore, if we avoid something like substances, hoping people will not see or interact with it, the only consequence is that they will become more vulnerable.
Avoiding bad things is impossible, we live in an imperfect world and struggles are a part of life. That is why prevention’s main focus is not only reducing potential dangers, but also preparing people to be able to cope with stressful things that happen around them. This is why most of the time, prevention does not look like “stopping something bad from happening”
(Oxford University Press, 2022).
So then, what does prevention look like? Prevention looks different for everyone: it can look like caring for someone, spending time with others, expressing affection, laughing and playing, showing empathy and compassion, teaching life skills, being respectful and patient…. in short, prevention looks like love.
Prevention wants to promote the well-being of people, families and communities, and love is at its foundation. When we focus on love, we understand why most prevention activities do not seem, at first sight, like prevention activities. Effective prevention strategies focus on helping people build long lasting relationships and develop coping skills so they grow happy and healthy.
When can we do prevention? Prevention is not an activity that is done once at a certain point in life; on the contrary, prevention can be done with any age group and should be on-going. It can start even before a baby is born, with prenatal care for pregnant women for example. Many countries are promoting this form of prevention because pregnancy is a key stage of development; it helps prevent complications, but also informs women about actions they can take to protect their infant and ensure a good pregnancy.
Prenatal care for pregnant women ensures that the baby grows happy and healthy, and supports mothers in a stressful period, showing them they are not alone, giving them a safe space to share their concerns and regulate their emotions, and teaching them how to adapt to the new changes they are going through.
Feeling safe and capable of facing new challenges with the support of people that care about you is also a key part of prevention, that is why learning family skills is essential for every member of the family. We often do not realize the impact something as small as a hug or meaningful conversation has on another person. Therefore, learning to show affection, spend time together, praise, listen, make decisions, among others skills, protects young people because they can learn personal, social, and communication skills from the grown-ups to face the adversities in the world. It also prevents substance use in other generations as it improves communication and relationships among family members which reduces stress, improves mental health, and gives a stronger sense of belonging.
Borough of Dunmore Pennsylvania (2017). The Importance of Having Strong Communities. Dunmore Borough. https://dunmorepa.gov/news/importance-strong-communities/#:~:text=Having%20a%20sense%20of%20community,have%20a%20sense%20of%20community.
Leban, L., & Griffin III, O. H. (2020). Disentangling the links between risk factors and adolescent substance use. Journal of Substance Use, 25(6), 644-651. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2020.1760373
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Words Matter: Preferred Language for Talking About Addiction. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/addiction-science/words-matter-preferred-language-talking-about-addiction
Orte, C., Coone, A., Gomila, M. A., & Pascual, B. (2020). Evidence-based practice and training needs in drug prevention: The interest and viability of the European prevention curriculum in prevention training in Spain. Adiktologie, 20, 37-46. https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/best-practice/european-prevention-curriculum-eupc_en
Oxford English Dictionary (2022). Prevention (n.). https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/2153726666.
Rogers-Jarrell, T., Eswaran, A., & Meisner, B. A. (2021). Extend an Embrace: The Availability of Hugs Is an Associate of Higher Self-Rated Health in Later Life. Research on Aging, 43(5-6), 227-236. doi: 10.1177/0164027520958698
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2020). Listen First. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/listen-first/about.html
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (n/d). Science & Publications. Listen First. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/listen-first/about.html
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime & World Health Organization (2018). International Standards on Drug Use Prevention: second updated edition. Vienna: UNODC and WHO. http://www.add-resources.org/unodc-international-standards-on-drug-use-prevention.5896450-315775.html
