The Influence Of Protective Factors

Protective factors are those associated with reduced potential for drug use and risk factors are those that make drug use more likely. The main principles have to be considered: programs should enhance protective factors and reverse or reduce risk factors.
Protective factors should include strong and positive family bonds, monitoring of children and peer’s activities, clear rules of conduct within the family, involvement between children and parents, success in school performance, strong bonds in institutions (school, group organizations, church).
Risk factors include: chaotic home environment, ineffective parenting, lack of parent and child attachment, inappropriately shy or aggressive behavior, failure in school performance, poor-social skills, affiliations with peers displaying deviant behaviors, perceptions of approval of drug-using behaviors in family, work, school, peer and community environments (NIDA 2002).
Potential impact of specific risk and protective factors change with age, early intervention with risk factors often has a greater impact than later intervention by changing a life path. Prevention programs should address all forms of drug abuse, alone or in combination, including under age use of legal drugs, the use of illegal drugs, and the inappropriate use of legally obtained substances, prescription medications, or over-the-counter drugs. These programs should also address the type of drug abuse in the local community, target modifiable risk factors and strengthen identified protective