Drug and substance abuse is a serious problem that affects individuals, families, and communities across the globe. For decades, the dominant message regarding drug prevention has been “just say no.” However, research has shown that this approach is not effective in the long-term. In recent years, there has been a shift towards more comprehensive drug prevention strategies that focus on education, awareness, and community involvement.

According to a National Education Association (NEA) article by Amanda Litvinov, the “just say no” approach fails to address the complex social and psychological factors that contribute to drug use. Instead, prevention efforts should focus on building resilience, providing education on the risks and consequences of drug use, and engaging communities in prevention efforts. This means involving parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officials in the conversation.

One effective strategy for drug prevention is to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to make healthy decisions. This includes teaching them how to manage stress, cope with peer pressure, and resist temptation. It also means providing them with factual information about the risks and consequences of drug use.

Litvinov lists words to use and those to steer clear of:

WORDS TO AVOID

• Addict, drug abuser Alcoholic 
• Drug problem, drug habit Drug abuse 
• Clean 
• Dirty 
• Former addict/alcoholic  

BETTER WORDS TO USE

• Person with substance use disorder
• Person with alcohol use disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Drug misuse, harmful use, abstinent, not actively using, actively using
• Person in recovery

Another important aspect of drug prevention is community involvement. This includes engaging parents, educators, and healthcare professionals in the conversation. It also means partnering with law enforcement officials to address drug-related crime and violence. By working together, we can create a culture that promotes healthy choices and discourages drug use.

In conclusion, the “just say no” approach to drug prevention is outdated and ineffective. Instead, we need to focus on comprehensive strategies that address the complex social and psychological factors that contribute to drug use. By building resilience, providing education, and engaging communities, we can create a culture that promotes healthy choices and discourages drug use.

Litvinov, A. (2020, April). Moving beyond ‘just say no.’ NEA Today April 2020, 44–45.