Name two evidence-based school-wide strategies for preventing substance use among students.

Name two evidence-based school-wide strategies for preventing substance use among students.

• A. Policy enforcement and school-wide prevention curricula; social norms marketing; peer-led programs.
• B. Only social norms marketing.
• C. Peer-led programs.
• D. D.A.R.E.-style lectures.

Answer: (A)

A solid answer rests on using multiple, school-wide strategies that work together to prevent substance use. Enforcing clear policies creates a consistent, safe environment and sets expectations for behavior across the entire school. Coupled with a comprehensive prevention curriculum, students gain knowledge and practical skills to resist initiation and to cope with pressures. Adding social norms marketing helps correct misperceptions about how common substance use really is among peers, which can reduce the influence of perceived popular behavior. Involving peers through peer-led programs taps into positive peer influence, making healthy choices feel more attainable and relevant to students. The other options focus on a single approach or rely on methods with weaker or inconsistent evidence in school settings, such as D.A.R.E.-style lectures, which is why they’re not as effective as a well-rounded, multi-component program.

A solid answer rests on using multiple, school-wide strategies that work together to prevent substance use. Enforcing clear policies creates a consistent, safe environment and sets expectations for behavior across the entire school. Coupled with a comprehensive prevention curriculum, students gain knowledge and practical skills to resist initiation and to cope with pressures. Adding social norms marketing helps correct misperceptions about how common substance use really is among peers, which can reduce the influence of perceived popular behavior. Involving peers through peer-led programs taps into positive peer influence, making healthy choices feel more attainable and relevant to students.

The other options focus on a single approach or rely on methods with weaker or inconsistent evidence in school settings, such as D.A.R.E.-style lectures, which is why they’re not as effective as a well-rounded, multi-component program.