ABSTRACT
The fields of drag abuse prevention and research into substance use have become increasingly sophisticated. A key theoretical issue facing the field of drug abuse prevention is that many programs continue to regard the individual user as the focus of concern. Prevention program personnel are intensely concerned with providing service, and their interests often conflict with those of researchers who are concerned primarily with methodology and instrument design issues. A topic on drug abuse was, in line with state department of education requirements, taught in the health education course each pupil recieved. Comprehensive studies of specific social and cultural settings can permit the development of a more efficient division of labor in the drug abuse prevention field than exists currently. School and community often provide similar services to a wide range of drug using youths who could profit from more focused efforts that relate to their specific needs.
