1 Chapter 1: Full Strategy List (Alphabetical)
Organizing Frameworks
Organizing frameworks provide a structured overall approach for planning, implementing, and evaluating communities’ substance use prevention and mental health promotion efforts. These frameworks offer systematic processes that guide stakeholders through key steps, from assessing community needs to measuring outcomes. Three prominent frameworks in this field are Communities That Care (CTC), the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.
These frameworks provide communities with roadmaps for organizing comprehensive, evidence-based prevention and promotion initiatives. They share common elements such as community engagement, data-driven planning, and ongoing evaluation, while each offering unique strengths and emphases.
| Strategy | Evidence-Based Registry or Research |
Communities That CareSocietal Unit of Practice Communities That Care (CTC) is a coalition-based prevention system that uses a public health approach to prevent youth problem behaviors. It is notable for being the only framework with randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence supporting its effectiveness. CTC guides communities through a five-phase process to identify risk and protective factors, select evidence-based interventions, and monitor outcomes. |
Conduent/CDC (Evidence Based): CTC
Blueprints (Promising): CTC Crime Solutions (Promising): CTC SAMHSA: CTC |
Strategic Prevention FrameworkThe Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is a five-step planning process developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It emphasizes data-driven decision making, capacity building, and sustainability in prevention efforts. The SPF is widely used in substance abuse prevention initiatives across the United States. |
Sage: SPF
Science Direct: SPF Wiley: SPF |
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole ChildThe Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Association for Supervision and Curriculum (ASCD), takes a holistic approach to child development and learning. The model focuses on the student and emphasizes the collaboration between schools, communities, public health, and health care sectors to align resources in support of the whole child. While not specific to substance use prevention, it integrates health promotion, through the Characteristics of an Effective Health Education Curriculum into the overall educational environment, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical and mental health with academic achievement. |
NIH: WSCC
Walden: WSCC |
The alphabetized table below supplies information for various evidence-based prevention strategies. The table includes the name of a strategy, along with its respective target populations, domains, links to registries, and information on research or peer review. The Compendium is updated regularly to reflect the most recent status of evidence-based strategies available to prevention practitioners. Every effort is made to provide timely and comprehensive listings. Please note, however, that programs, practices, and policies are added and removed from registries and given peer reviews on an ongoing basis. For this reason, the Compendium may not represent the total sum of strategies available at any given time. If you know of an evidence-based strategy that we should consider including, please contact us with details at tahelp@iu.edu.
Through assessing your community, you have learned that there are contributing factors (determinants, risk factors) for substance misuse. When researching programs and practices, look for aspects such as geography, program effectiveness, target demographics, setting, and program type that align with your pre-selected determinants. Evidence-based registries and research articles will often give information on where and who the target population was during evaluation. Matching your target population to the geography (rural, urban, suburban), the demographics of the population that was served, and where the intervention was held can help create a successful project with consistently superior program fidelity.
Table Columns:
- Strategy Name and Links to the Program Website. Clicking on the name will take you to the developer’s website.
- Focus Population is based on the subpopulation the strategy is designed to reach. More information on focus population can be found in Chapter 3.
- Domain is a way to identify the best reach for different contributing (risk and protective) factors which impact behavior. Details on Domains can be found in Chapter 4.
- IOM Category identifies the most appropriate delivery method for the strategy. Details on IOM Categories can be found in Chapter 5.
- Setting lists the location types for effective delivery.
- CSAP Strategy type provides information on the type of strategy. Additional CSAP Strategy information is in Chapter 6.
- Tier Level are based on level of evaluation effectiveness. Evidence of Effectiveness based on evaluation criteria can be found in Tier Level details in Chapter 2.
- Evidence-Based Registry or Research provides links to the evaluation results or peer reviewed articles that support evaluation. Those registries used to rate the programs will also show the determined level of effectiveness such as “Promising” or “Effective.”
*Strategies marked with an asterisk (*) have been proven effective for other behaviors (See chapter 7)
| Strategy | Focus Population | Domain | IOM | Setting | CSAP Strategy Type | Tier Level | Evidence-Based Registry or Research |
Advertising Restrictions |
Youth | Community | Universal Indirect | Other | Environmental Approach | Tier 2 | County Health Rankings (Some Evidence): AR
Athena Forum: AR SAMHSA: AR |
Alcohol EDU |
College through age 30 | Individual | Universal Direct | Campus | Education | Tier 1 | CollegeAIM (Higher Effectiveness): AE
NIH: AE |
Alcohol Literacy Challenge |
High School, College
Suburban |
Individual | Universal Direct | School
Campus |
Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): ALC |
Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices * |
Pre-K, Elementary
Urban/Suburban |
Individual
School |
Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): AlP
Crime Solutions (Promising): AlP |
All Stars* (All Stars Core Program) |
6th grade | Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | CEBC (Promising): All Stars
Sage: All Stars Sage: All Stars OASAS: All Stars Crime Solutions: Ineffective |
Alternative Events and ActivitiesSubstance Free Alternative Events (SFAE), Alternative Community Events (ACE) Framework, Community Alternative Resiliency Events (CARE) |
All Populations |
Community |
Universal Indirect |
Community | Information Dissemination
Alternatives Community-Based Process |
Tier 2 | National Crime Prevention Council: Alternatives
Wiley: Alternatives OJP: Alternatives ScienceDirect: Alternatives SAMHSA (alternatives: effective): Alternatives |
Baby and Me Tobacco Free |
Pregnant and New Mothers | Family | Selective | Other | Education | Tier 1 | Wiley: BMTF
Springer: BMTF AAP: BMTF |
Bienvenido* |
Young Adults, Adults, Older Adults, Unique Population (Hispanic) | Individual | Selective | Other | Education | Tier 2 | Stanford: Bienvenido |
Big Brothers Big Sisters* |
Elementary, Middle School, High School | Individual
Community Family |
Selective | Other
Community |
Education
Mentoring |
Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Effective): BBBS
Blueprints (Promising): BBBS |
Blues Programs* |
High School | Individual | Selective
Indicated |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): BP
Blueprints (Model): BP |
Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO |
College | Individual | Indicated | School
Online |
Education | Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): CETG |
Caring School Community* |
Elementary, Middle School | School | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): CSC
CASEL (Select): CSC |
CATCH My Breath |
Middle, High School | School | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Eastern Carolina Univ: CMB
NIH: CMB Sage: CMB Science Direct: CMB |
College Age Social Norms CampaignExamples: Challenging College Alcohol Abuse, Buzzkill |
College | Individual
School |
Universal Indirect | School | Information Dissemination | Tier 2 | County Health Rankings (Some Evidence): CASN
NIAAA: CASN |
Communities Mobilized for a Change on Alcohol (CMCA) |
Young Adult | Community | Universal Indirect | Other | Community-Based Process | Tier 2 | CH Military Fam.: CMCA
CEBC (Promising): CMCA Wiley: CMCA SAMHSA: CMCA |
Coping Power* |
Elementary
Urban, Suburban |
Individual
School Family |
Universal
Selective |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): CP
Blueprints (Promising): CP Crime Solutions (Promising): CP SAMHSA: CP |
Creating Lasting Family Connections |
Elementary, Middle, High School, Parents | Family | Universal Direct
Selective |
Other | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): CLFC
NIH: CLFC CEBC (Promising): CLFC OASAS: CLFC |
Curriculum Based Support Group (CBSG) Youth Connection* |
Elementary, Middle School | Individual
Family |
Selective
Indicated |
School
Community |
Education | Tier 2 | Developer Evaluation: CBSG
Athena Forum: CBSG |
Drug Take Back/Disposal |
All Populations | Community | Universal Indirect | Community | Community-Based Process | Tier 2 | County Health Rankings (Expert Opinion): DTB |
Familias Unidas* |
Parents, Unique Populations
Hispanic, Latino |
Individual
Family |
Selective | Home
Community |
Education | Tier 1 | Blueprints (Promising): FaUm
Crime Solutions (Effective): FaUm SAMHSA: FaUm OASAS: FaUm |
Families in Action* (Active Parenting) |
Families
Rural |
Family | Universal Direct | Other | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): FIA |
Family Matters* |
Middle School, Parents | Individual
Family |
Universal Direct | Home | Education | Tier 2 | Conduent/CDC (Effective): FM
CEBC (Supported): FM |
Footprints for Life |
Pre-K, Elementary
|
Individual
School |
Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Rutgers Evaluation: FFL
MW Journal: FFL |
Good Behavior Game* |
Elementary |
Individual
School |
Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): GBG
Blueprints (Promising): GBG OASAS: GBG |
Great Body Shop* |
Pre-k-Middle School |
Individual
School |
Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): GBS |
Guiding Good Choices* |
Elementary, Middle School, Parents |
Individual
Family |
Universal Direct | Other | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): GGC
Blueprints (Promising): GGC Crime Solutions (Effective): GGC |
InShape Prevention Plus Wellness |
Early Adulthood Rural/Frontier |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): InShape |
keepin’ it REAL* |
Middle School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): KIR
CEBC (Promising): KIR OASAS: KIR |
LifeSkills Training Program* |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): LST
Blueprints (Model): LST SAMHSA: LST OASAS: LST |
LifeSkills Transitions* |
Upper High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 3 | Similar to LifeSkills Training Program. No individual strategy research. |
Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers (LIFT) |
Early Elementary, Teachers, Parents Urban Children exposed to violence |
Individual
School Family |
Indicated | School | Education | Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Effective): LIFT
Military Fam. PSU (Promising): LIFT Sage: LIFT |
Lion’s Quest Skills for Growing* |
Elementary
|
Individual
School Family Community |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): LQS
Military Fam. PSU (Promising): LQS CASEL (Promising): LQS OASAS: LQS |
Master Mind* |
Upper Elementary Rural |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): MM |
Media Detective |
Elementary Suburban |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): MD |
Media Ready |
Middle School Suburban |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): MR |
Michigan Model for Health* |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): MMH
Crime Solutions (Promising): MMH |
Model Smoking Prevention Program |
Middle School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): MSPP |
Parent-Focused Positive Norms Campaign:Examples: Talk. They Hear You., Parents Who Host Lose the Most |
Family |
Family | Universal Indirect | Parent & Community | Information Dissemination | Tier 2 | CDC: PFC
NIH: PFC NIH: PFC2 |
Policy Change |
All Populations |
Community | Universal Indirect | Community | Environmental Approach | Tier 2 | NIH: PC
Wiley: PC T&F: PC |
Positive Action* |
High School, Young Adult |
School
Individual |
Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Blueprints (Model): PAct
Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): PAct SAMHSA: PAct OASAS: PAct |
Positive Culture Framework (Positive Community Norms)Montana Model (Most of Us), Population Focused Campaigns |
All Populations |
Community
School |
Universal Indirect | Other | Information Dissemination | Tier 2 | Sage Publications: PCF
SpringerLink: PCF |
PreVenture |
Middle, High School |
School
Individual |
Universal Direct
Selective |
School | Education | Tier 1 | NIH: PV
NIH: PV OASAS: PV |
Prime for Life |
Young Adults |
Individual | Universal
Selected Indicated |
Community | Education | Tier 2 | Athena Forum: PFL
Crime Solutions: Inconclusive |
Project Alert |
Middle, High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School
Community |
Education | Tier 2 | Rand: PAl
NIH: PAl Crime Solutions (Ineffective): PAl |
Project Northland and Class ActionClass Action is considered evidence informed when used as a booster to Project Northland |
Middle School Rural |
Individual, School | Universal Direct | School
Community |
Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): PN
Athena Forum: Class Action |
Project SUCCESS |
Middle, High School Rural/Frontier |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School
Community |
Education | Tier 2 | Conduent/CDC (Effective): PS |
Project Towards No Drug Abuse* |
Middle School, High School, College |
Individual |
Universal Direct Selective |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): PTND
Blueprints (Model): PTND CEBC: PTND OASAS: PTND SAMHSA: PTND |
Project Towards No Tobacco Use |
Middle School, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct Selective |
School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): TNT
NIH: TNT SAMHSA: TNT |
Project Venture |
Indigenous People (American Indian Youth) |
Individual |
Selective |
School
Community |
Education | Tier 2 | OJP: PV
SAMHSA: PV |
Raising Healthy Children* |
Elementary, Middle, High School, Parents Suburban |
Individual School Family Community |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): RHC
Crime Solutions (Promising): RHC SAMHSA: RHC |
Refuse, Remove, Reasons |
High School Urban, Suburban |
Individual |
Indicated |
School | Education | Tier 1 | ResearchGate (QED): RRR |
SMART Leaders/Stay SMARTComponents of SMART Moves |
Middle School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Other (Boys and Girls Clubs) | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): SL
Harvard: SL Modeled from Botvin’s LifeSkills. Strategy must contain Stay SMART to be considered promising and can also contain SMART Leaders. |
SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness |
High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): SPPW
Blueprints (Promising): SPPW OASAS: SPPW SAMHSA: SPPW |
STARS for Families |
Middle, Early High School, Parent |
Family |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 2 | Conduent/CDC (Effective): SFF
Crime Solutions (Ineffective): SFF |
Staying Connected with Your Teen* |
Middle, High School, Young Adult, Parent |
Family |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): SCYT |
Strengthening Families Program* |
Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School, Parents |
Family |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 2 | Conduent/CDC (Effective): SF
Crime Solutions (Promising): SF CEBC (Promising): SF OASAS: SF |
Strengthening Families Program 10-14* |
Middle School, Parents |
Family |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): SFP
CEBC (Well Supported): SFP OASAS: SFP SAMHSA: SFP |
Strong African American Families* |
Elementary, Middle School, Parents African American |
Family |
Universal Direct |
School
Other |
Education | Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): SAAF
Crime Solutions (Effective): SAAF SAMHSA: SAAF |
Team Awareness* |
Young Adult, Adult, Older Adult |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Workplace | Education | Tier 1 | NIH: TA
SAMHSA: TA Prevention Science: theoretical backing |
Team Resilience* |
Young Adult |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 3 | Similar to Team Awareness . No individual strategy research. |
The Truth Campaign |
Middle, High School |
Community |
Universal Indirect |
Community | Information Dissemination | Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Promising): TC
NIH: TC (2004) AJPM: TC (2010) NIH: TC (2018) Oxford Academic: TC (2022) |
Too Good for Drugs |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): TGFD
Study (Eval): TGFD OASAS: TGFD |
Too Good for Violence* |
Mid-level Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): TGFV
Crime Solutions (Promising): TGFV OASAS: TGFV |
Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE)* |
Older Adults |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Other | Education | Tier 1 | Conduent/CDC (Evid.-Based): WISE
NCOA: WISE ACL: WISE |
You and Me Together Vape Free, Stanford University |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual, School |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 2 | Wiley: YMTVF |
Youth Positive Social NormsExamples: Be the Majority, Above the Influence, What’s Your Side Effect?, Midwestern Prevention Project, The Real Cost |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Community |
Universal Indirect |
Other | Information Dissemination | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (MPP-effective): YSN
SAMHSA (TRC, TTC): YSN |