Page 11 - Focus on Prevention: Strategies and Programs to Prevent Substance Use

FOCUS Prevention Theory

ON

Engaging in substance use prevention means that
you are trying to affect the way people think, feel, and
act with regard to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Your
knowledge of local conditions and your instincts about
what to do are vital. Still, your efforts are more likely to
succeed if they are informed by theories of behavior
change and human motivation.

Decades of research and expert

thinking have provided insight
about how people think about

health issues, change their minds,
and redirect their actions.
Put it All Together

Why Should You Care About Theories?
Theories may seem far removed from your efforts to By helping us understand what motivates people
to change, each theory gives us another key
proceed with a prevention strategy, yet prevention theories to substance use prevention. In general, the
are more than vague thoughts and guesswork. Decades of following elements must be present for a person
research and expert thinking have provided insight about to perform a change in behavior:
how people think about health issues, change their minds,
and redirect their actions. Being familiar with the main  A strong positive intention or commitment to
points of these theories can help you decide how to shape change
actions that are credible and appropriate.  An environment that makes it possible for the
new behavior to occur
How Do Substance Use Issues Arise?  The skills needed to perform the behavior
A public health model stresses interactions among:
 Belief in one’s ability to perform the behavior
 An agent—alcohol, tobacco, or a drug.
 Belief that the advantages of performing a
 A host—the individual user. behavior outweigh the disadvantages
 The environment—the social, cultural, and physical  More social pressure to perform the behavior
context in which use occurs. than not
To make a lasting difference, prevention efforts need to  A view that performing the behavior is more
address all three parts of this model. consistent than inconsistent with one’s self-
image or a feeling that it does not violate one’s
What Theories Can Be Used in Substance Use personal standards
Prevention Strategies?
Several behavior change models can be applied to  An emotional reaction to performing the
affect people’s attitudes and behavior regarding the use behavior that is more positive than negative.
of harmful substances.

Focus On Topics 7