The NSDUH Report: Exposure to Substance Use Prevention Messages and Substance Use among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007

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May 22, 2009

According to The NSDUH Report: Exposure to Substance Use Prevention Messages and Substance Use among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007, most adolescents have been exposed to some kind of substance abuse prevention message—whether having seen or heard an alcohol or other drug prevention message through the general media, participated in special classes about other drugs or alcohol, or talked with a parent about the dangers of alcohol or other drug abuse.

The following are brief findings from the report:

The general media (such as radio, TV, posters, or pamphlets) were the primary source for substance abuse prevention messages.
The percentage of adolescents reporting exposure to other drug or alcohol abuse prevention messages through media sources declined from 83.2 percent in 2002 to 77.9 percent in 2007.
In general, adolescents who had been exposed to some kind of substance abuse prevention message were less likely to report past month abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs than adolescents who had not been exposed to such prevention messages.

For more information, visit the NSDUH Web site to read the full report in PDF or HTML format.