Prevention Resources

The 12 C's Prevention Framework

“Prevention doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Primary prevention in schools requires the support of parents, students and society if it is to be successful,” says Anders Eriksson, a drug advisor responsible for the PreCens drug prevention office in Stockholm.

He compiled the following list of factors necessary to guarantee successful prevention, now in use in prevention programs in Stockholm and Rio de Janeiro.

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The Twelve C's of Drug Prevention

Consensus

Agreement among all those working together regarding prevention work for target groups.

Context

Understanding the environment and circumstances where prevention takes place.

Control

It's impossible to prevent drug use if drugs are easily available, cheap and socially accepted.

Combination

Not just prevention, treatment and enforcement, but a comprehensive plan involving social programs and services.

Complexity

Primary prevention must operate on both demand and supply through mass media, groups, and individuals.

Communication

Clear, effective messaging across all prevention efforts and stakeholders.

Complementarity

Strategies for the whole population, complemented with special attention for risk groups.

Continuity

Prevention is a long-term endeavor, a process that must be repeated continuously for all age groups.

Cooperation

One of the most important pillars - prevention is too complex for isolated actors.

Competence

Essential to have up-to-date knowledge about drug issues, almost in real time.

Credibility

There must be trust that each proposed objective will be attained.

Concreteness

Little use for theories if they cannot be put into practice.

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