About CSAP

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to keep my child from using alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs?

Learn the facts about substance abuse
Talk with your child about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
Get to know your child's friends
Teach your child that substance use is not the road to a glamorous lifestyle
Be the best role model you can

What substance abuse prevention program materials do you have that I could use in my home, classroom, community, or at work?

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) stocks many materials that everyone can use to improve their communities. Whether you want to focus on a particular issue, such as alcoholism or teen smoking, or you want to target a particular population, such as adolescent girls or a particular racial group, we have information that can help.

Are some people more likely to develop problems with substance abuse than others?

Yes, CSAP finds that certain populations are at higher risk for substance abuse, particularly those with family members who abuse alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Some warning signs for youth are that they

have no positive, consistent adult role models
are doing poorly in school
are involved in delinquent behavior and/or belong to gangs, and/or
live with substance-abusing parents or have parents in the criminal justice system

Warning signs for adults include

a family history of alcohol and/or substance abuse, and/or
peers who use illegal substances or who use alcohol excessively

Why should we continue to spend tax money on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug problems?

Prevention works! Substance abuse problems not only cause health problems and heartbreak, they cost Americans money. For every dollar spent on drug abuse prevention, communities can save 4 to 5 dollars in costs for drug abuse treatment and counseling.

What if we're past the prevention stage? Someone I know has already begun abusing alcohol or using illicit drugs. What can I do?

If you or someone you know needs help with an existing problem, call 1-800-662-HELP and talk to a professional counselor who specializes in your area of concern.

Where can I get additional information on substance abuse-related topics?

You can call SAMHSA's NCADI at 1-800-729-6686 (TDD 1-800-487-4889) and speak to an Information Specialist about available materials, or you can visit SAMHSA's NCADI Web site at ncadi.samhsa.gov, where you can order from our online SAMHSA's NCADI catalog and find links to other helpful Web sites.

* National Institutes on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide, NIH Publication No. 97-4212, March 1997, p. i.