Involvement with drug use starts at a young age. Every year nearly 20, 000 young people are estimated to develop into adult problem drug users (Edinburgh University & Crew, 2000). Thus in order to be most effective, drug strategies should aim at prevention of drug addiction among young people.
This can be achieved by educating the children (right from the elementary school stage) and increasing their awareness regarding the possible psychosocial risk factors which could instigate the development of substance use disorders. Importance must be given towards early implementation of preventive interventions and strategies.
A strong focus on skills training must be given so that children learn to resist against social influences as early as possible (Pokhrel et al, 2007). The government of U. K has implemented a strategy “The Drug Strategy” in 1998 in order to deal with the growing problem of drug abuse in the UK (Home Office, 2007). One important component of this strategy is prevention of emergence of substance use disorders among the young people. In order to achieve this goal, the U. K Home Office implemented a strategy known as “Young People’s Substance Misuse Strategy”. This strategy aims at preventing young people and children from abusing drugs.