ABSTRACT
The first question that must be asked in addressing the issue of prevention is what are we trying to prevent? Prevention may mean inhibiting initiation to substance use. Where smoking and illicit drug use are concerned, the preferred goal in many societies today is to eradicate these behaviours altogether, and one way to work towards this goal is to discourage people from taking them up in the first place. Prevention may also mean inhibiting escalation of substance use, that is encouraging people to keep to moderate, non-problematic levels. This is most clearly relevant to drinking alcohol; in western societies at least, prohibition is not the aim and therefore moderation is encouraged. Prevention can also include inhibiting problems associated with substance use. In cases where drinkers or drug users are unwilling or unable to reduce their consumption, priority may given to minimizing the adverse consequences associated with substance use.
