1 Chapter 1: Full Strategy List (Alphabetical)
Organizing Frameworks
Organizing frameworks provide a structured overall approach for communities to plan, implement, and evaluate 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. |
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 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. Programs, practices, and policies are being added and removed from registries and given peer reviews on an ongoing basis. For this reason, we cannot use the list as the total sum of available programs, practices, and policies.
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 their 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 great program fidelity.
Table Columns:
- Strategy name and links to website
- Target Population
- Domain
- IOM Category
- Setting
- CSAP Strategy type
- Tier Levels: Evidence of Effectiveness based on evaluation criteria (find Tier Level details in Chapter 2)
*Has been proven effective for other behaviors (See chapter 7)
| Strategy | Target Pop. | 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 | Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): ALC |
Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices *
|
Pre-K, Elementary | Individual, School | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence 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 Athena: 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 | Selective | Other | Education, Mentoring | Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Effective): BBBS
Blueprints (Promising): BBBS |
Blues Programs* |
High School | Individual | Selective, Indicated | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): BP
Blueprints (Model): BP |
Cannabis eCHECKUP TO GO |
College | Individual | Indicated | School | 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 | Info. 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 | Individual | Selective | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence 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 | CDC (Evidence Based): CLFC
NIH: CLFC CEBC (Promising): CLFC OASAS: CLFC |
Curriculum Based Support Group (CBSG)*
|
Elementary, Middle School | Individual | Selective | Other | 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 | Family | Selective | Home, School, Community | Education | Tier 1 | Blueprints (Promising): FaUm
Crime Solutions (Effective): FaUm SAMHSA: FaUm OASAS: FaUm |
Families in Action* |
Families | Family | Universal Direct | Other | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): FIA |
Family Matters* |
Middle School, Parents | Family | Universal Direct | Other | Education | Tier 2 | 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 |
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 | CDC (Evidence Based): GBS |
Guiding Good Choices* |
Elementary, Middle School, Parents |
Family | Universal Direct | Other | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): GGC
Blueprints (Promising): GGC Crime Solutions (Effective): GGC SAMHSA: GGC OASAS: GGC |
InShape Prevention Plus Wellness |
Early Adulthood |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): InShape |
keepin’ it REAL* |
Middle School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): KIR
CEBC (Promising): KIR OASAS: KIR |
LifeSkills Training Program* |
Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence 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 |
Individual, School, Family | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Effective): LIFT
Military Fam. PSU (Promising): LIFT Sage: LIFT |
Lion’s Quest Skills for Growing* |
Elementary |
Individual, School, Community |
Universal Direct |
School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): LQS
Military Fam. PSU (Promising): LQS CASEL (Promising): LQS OASAS: LQS |
Master Mind* |
Upper Elementary |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): MM |
Media Detective |
Elementary |
Individual | Universal Direct | School | Education | Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): MD |
Media Ready |
Middle School |
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 | CDC (Evidence 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
CDC (Evidence Based): PAct Crime Solutions (Effective): PAct SAMHSA: PAct OASAS: PAct |
Positive Culture FrameworkMontana 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 | Indicated | Other | Education | Tier 2 | Athena: 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 |
Individual | Universal Direct | School, Community | Education | Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): PN
Athena Forum: Class Action |
Project STAR: Midwestern Prevention Project (MPP) |
Middle, Early High School |
Individual | Universal Direct | School, Community | Education | Tier 1 | Crime Solutions (Effective): MPP
Athena Forum: MPP |
Project SUCCESS |
Middle, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School, Community |
Education |
Tier 2 | CDC (Effective): PS
Athena: PS |
Project Toward No Drug Abuse* |
Middle School, High School, College |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School |
Education |
Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): PTND
Blueprints (Model): PTND CEBC: PTND OASAS: PTND SAMHSA: PTND |
Project Toward No Tobacco Use |
Middle School, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School |
Education |
Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): TNT
NIH: TNT SAMHSA: TNT |
Project Venture |
Indigenous People (American Indian Youth) |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School, Community |
Education |
Tier 2 | Crime Solutions (Promising): PV
OJP: PV SAMHSA: PV |
Protecting You, Protecting Me |
Elementary |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School |
Education |
Tier 2 | UT (Eval): PYPM
UNM (Eval): PYPM Athena: PYPM |
Raising Healthy Children* |
Elementary, Middle, High School, Parents |
Individual, School |
Universal Direct |
School |
Education |
Tier 2 | Blueprints (Promising): RHC
Crime Solutions (Promising): RHC SAMHSA: RHC |
Refuse, Remove, Reasons |
High School |
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: SS 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 | CDC (Evidence Based): SPPW
Blueprints (Promising): SPPW OASAS: SPPW SAMHSA: SPPW |
STARS for Families |
Middle, Early High School, Parent |
Family |
Universal Direct |
Other |
Education |
Tier 2 | 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 | 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 | CDC (Evidence 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 OASAS: SAAF SAMHSA: SAAF |
Team Awareness* |
Young Adult, Adult, Older Adult |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Workplace |
Education |
Tier 1 | NIH: TA
Athena Forum: 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 |
Info. 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 | CDC (Evidence Based): TGFD
Study (Eval): TGFD OASAS: TGFD |
Too Good for Violence* |
Mid-level Elementary, Middle, High School |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
School |
Education |
Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): TGFV
Crime Solutions (Promising): TGFV OASAS: TGFV |
Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE)* |
Older Adults |
Individual |
Universal Direct |
Other |
Education |
Tier 1 | CDC (Evidence Based): WISE
NCOA: WISE ACL: WISE |
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 |
Info. Dissemination |
Tier 2 | Crime Solutions(MPP-effective): YSN
SAMHSA (TRC, TTC): YSN |