Prevention and control

Preventing drug and alcohol abuse is practically achievable through a combination of measures:

1. Effectively dealing with peer pressure — since friend groups are the single biggest reason teenagers start using drugs, cultivating a better circle of friends helps avoid the pressure to use.
2. Seeking help from parents and peers — immediate, trusted support helps a young person be guided appropriately, and even confiding in close friends can help vent anxiety and guilt.
3. Education and counselling — builds a positive attitude toward handling problems and accepting life's disappointments.
4. Looking for danger signs — teachers and parents watching for early behavioural signs of a tendency toward addiction can intervene sooner. …