Effectively Fighting Drug Abuse and Addiction

In this synthesis, we aim to explore the issue of drug use prevention and the effectiveness of various types of programmes implemented globally as it is reflected in the available empirical evidence. We focus mainly on programmes that aim to prevent drug use among adolescents and the initiation of drug use. We thus seek to contribute to an evidence-based point of view to the conversation on the most appropriate policies and programmes to prevent drug use, especially among the youth.The most extensive part of the paper consists of a wrap up on the efficacy assessment of the main policies and programmes implemented in the developed world, with a focus on EU experience, followed by the presentation of numerous prevention programmes.For those interested primarily in the practical aspects of the topic, perhaps the most interesting part consists of dozens of examples of projects and programmes from around the world, which are described in relatively advanced detail along with links to pages with additional information. Thus, those who want to plan anti-drug programmes, with the most varied target groups and on any of the possible levels, have a good source of inspiration in our study.