by Kate Johns

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

Drug abuse prevention begins in the womb. Beginning as early as possible of being a great role model for your children and carrying through your entire life is the way to help a child become a strong, responsible adult that doesn't have an addiction problem. Children learn early and often. By being an adult that doesn't do drugs and by not drinking in front of the kids is the best example you can give your children. While being pregnant an expectant mother should not drink or do drugs.

Drug abuse prevention takes place on every level from the time before a child is born to programs at school, to adults at home teaching children about the dangers of not becoming a drug addicted adult. A child that sees her parents drinking and partying with other adults may grow up thinking this is normal, and may take on the same characteristics.

Drug abuse prevention takes place in the home.

Drug abuse prevention starts at home with a responsible adult teaching the children to not do drugs. The adult should tell the kids what harm drugs can do and how drugs can ruin a person's health and eventually that person's life. Obviously an adult won't be placing posters with Nancy Reagan's face on them in the home saying:"Just say NO to drugs." But an adult can teach her children not to do drugs, and to walk away from friends that are doing drugs. An adult can tell her child that he needs to think for himself and he doesn't have to give into peer pressure by doing drugs. The message of drugs don't make you look cool, they make you look like a dope should be taught to all children.

Drug abuse prevention takes place at school.

Many public and private schools have programs that teach kids not to do drugs. An intimidating police officer may come into a school and tell what will happen to the children if they get caught doing or selling drugs. Posters may be placed around schools to enforce a drug abuse prevention policy. School administrators certainly can start programs for young children where they can draw pictures of good examples of what to do instead of doing drugs such as reading a book, watching TV, or telling an adult that someone tried to sell them drugs.

Drug abuse prevention works with support from the community.

Community centers, drug abuse prevention centers , and local churches can help a child as well as steering an adult away from drug abuse. Community centers , the local YMCA and after school programs can help a child stay busy, make friends and give kids

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