Community-wide health promotion and drug abuse prevention

This paper reviews the rationale for a community-wide approach to drug abuse prevention. Four arguments are outlined. The question of how to conceptualize community-wide strategies is then addressed. Three background frameworks, psychosocial theory, the appropriate intervention targets, and the timing or readiness of the community, are reviewed. Examples of each from ongoing research are presented. The usefulness of each framework to the design of specific strategies for drug abuse prevention is provided.