Substance Abuse Prevention – Study Guide, Key Concepts & Practice Questions
#1 public health problem in the US - correct answer ✔✔substance abuse
societal costs associated with substance abuse - correct answer ✔✔* exceed $1 trillion annually
- ex: through accidents/injuries, crime, lowered educational attainment, lost productivity,
incarceration, legal costs
public health model - correct answer ✔✔* the US government treats substance abuse as a
societal issue, not as an individual problem
- given all the issues associated with substance abuse
primary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* aimed at people who have not used substances or
who have had only minimal exposure
* GOAL: to prevent problems before they arise
- AIMED AT: middle or elementary school aged children
- usually delivered through school-based curricula or programs
* KEY: to delay *age of onset*
- teaching young children strategies for saying no to drugs
goal of primary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* to prevent problems before they arise
* to delay age of onset
secondary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* AIMED AT: people who have already had some
experience with using substances
* GOAL: to limit or reduce extent of abuse - to prevent use from spreading (ex: to other
substances) - to teach strategies for responsible use of alcohol, if of age
- focus on harm reduction, not total abstinence
, goal of secondary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* to limit or reduce extent of abuse
* to prevent use from spreading (ex: to other substances)
* to teach strategies for responsible use of alcohol, if of age
- focus on harm reduction, not total abstinence
secondary prevention strategies - correct answer ✔✔* getting high schoolers involved in
substance-free alternative recreation programs
* teaching college students to drink moderately & increasing awareness of dangers
tertiary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* AIMED AT: people who have undergone treatment for
substance use problems
* GOAL: to help individual remain drug free after treatment ends = to prevent relapse
goal of tertiary prevention - correct answer ✔✔to prevent relapse
2 principle prevention strategies - correct answer ✔✔1. promoting constructive lifestyles and
norms that discourage substance abuse
2. developing physical and social environments that facilitate drug-free lifestyles & that buffer
against the development of substance use behaviors
* resilient approach
- BOTH strategies work to minimize risk factors for substance use & to maximize protective
factors
resilient approach - correct answer ✔✔* used in prevention strategies
- work to minimize risk factors for substance use & to maximize protective factors
#1 public health problem in the US - correct answer ✔✔substance abuse
societal costs associated with substance abuse - correct answer ✔✔* exceed $1 trillion annually
- ex: through accidents/injuries, crime, lowered educational attainment, lost productivity,
incarceration, legal costs
public health model - correct answer ✔✔* the US government treats substance abuse as a
societal issue, not as an individual problem
- given all the issues associated with substance abuse
primary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* aimed at people who have not used substances or
who have had only minimal exposure
* GOAL: to prevent problems before they arise
- AIMED AT: middle or elementary school aged children
- usually delivered through school-based curricula or programs
* KEY: to delay *age of onset*
- teaching young children strategies for saying no to drugs
goal of primary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* to prevent problems before they arise
* to delay age of onset
secondary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* AIMED AT: people who have already had some
experience with using substances
* GOAL: to limit or reduce extent of abuse - to prevent use from spreading (ex: to other
substances) - to teach strategies for responsible use of alcohol, if of age
- focus on harm reduction, not total abstinence
, goal of secondary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* to limit or reduce extent of abuse
* to prevent use from spreading (ex: to other substances)
* to teach strategies for responsible use of alcohol, if of age
- focus on harm reduction, not total abstinence
secondary prevention strategies - correct answer ✔✔* getting high schoolers involved in
substance-free alternative recreation programs
* teaching college students to drink moderately & increasing awareness of dangers
tertiary prevention - correct answer ✔✔* AIMED AT: people who have undergone treatment for
substance use problems
* GOAL: to help individual remain drug free after treatment ends = to prevent relapse
goal of tertiary prevention - correct answer ✔✔to prevent relapse
2 principle prevention strategies - correct answer ✔✔1. promoting constructive lifestyles and
norms that discourage substance abuse
2. developing physical and social environments that facilitate drug-free lifestyles & that buffer
against the development of substance use behaviors
* resilient approach
- BOTH strategies work to minimize risk factors for substance use & to maximize protective
factors
resilient approach - correct answer ✔✔* used in prevention strategies
- work to minimize risk factors for substance use & to maximize protective factors
