Reclaiming Futures (RF) is an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that seeks to improve outcomes for drug-involved youth in the juvenile justice system. The first phase of Reclaiming Futures (2002–07) was a ten-site demonstration effort that relied on organizational change and system reform to improve substance abuse interventions for youthful offenders. As part of a national evaluation of Reclaiming Futures, the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago conducted biannual surveys in each community participating in the initiative. The surveys measured the quality of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment systems as reported by expert informants in each community. The pattern of their responses over six survey administrations (December 2003 to June 2006) suggests that RF is a promising strategy for improving substance abuse interventions for youth. Positive and significant changes were reported in all ten RF communities. In several communities, most quality indicators measured by the evaluation improved significantly during the course of the RF initiative.
Drugs4Real is a free Web-based prevention program that teaches early adolescents (ages 11 to 14) about the influence of alcohol and other drugs, and strengthens their commitment to avoid taking these substances. This program has been scientifically tested with kids and was shown to effectively improve knowledge regarding the risks of drug and alcohol abuse.
No shady dealer, no need to hand over a wad of bills, no needles, not even a match to light. No wonder inhalant abuse is among the most common forms of substance abuse among middle school boys and girls. It's also potentially deadly and hard to detect— and on the increase among young teens. Carole Moore reports on the dangers.
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign offers step-by-step instructions on how communities and youth can plan, budget, develop and paint an anti-drug wall mural, promoting anti-drug messages and building healthy, safe and drug-free neighborhoods.
This report urges lawmakers to increase federal and state funding for prevention and treatment efforts, and public health officials to increase training for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment. It also calls on the justice system to expand treatment and services for teens in correctional facilities, and offer more transitional and after-care services to those re-entering the community.
Many teens don't understand how drug tests work, who can require them, and whether being around drug-users, particularly marijuana smokers, can lead to positive results for non-users. To help them find the answers to their questions, the administration has put all of the information in one place.
Most kids do not take drugs—and the number of those who do has been declining since the mid-1990s. Still, kids face risks from drugs, alcohol and tobacco—often because the "user" is an adult responsible for caring for them. Learn about successful prevention efforts and how stable and involved adults can make a difference in our Substance Abuse topic page.
Under a contract from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Tanglewood Research has developed the Prevention Knowledge Base, which now contains 1,000 summaries of prevention research articles.
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