PREVENTION SCIENCE AS A BASE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PLANNING – LESSONS LEARNED FOR IMPROVING THE PREVENTION

Addiction prevention programs in Croatia are still not sufficiently scientifically based as recommended by both foreign and Croatian scholars in the field of science and research. In order to achieve this objective, it is necessary to invest in the development of programs, notably by (1) linking program activities with theoretical and research insights, (2) defining program activities on the basis of comprehensive needs assessment, and (3) planning and conducting program evaluations. Therefore, this paper will present principles and elements of effective risk behaviors prevention in general, as well as specific traits of programs and strategies aimed at substance abuse prevention. Those program characteristics which have been proved effective and which contain components of knowledge and information, but are also based on psycho-educational approaches, such as development of skills and healthy lifestyles, will be described according to all prevention levels, from the environmentally-based prevention strategy to universal, selective and indicated prevention