NIDA releases online guide for early childhood prevention of drug use

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently launched an online guide about early childhood interventions to prevent drug use and other unhealthy behaviors.

“Thanks to more than three decades of research into what makes a young child able to cope with life’s inevitable stresses, we now have unique opportunities to intervene very early in life to prevent substance use disorders,” Nora D. Volkow, MD, director of the NIDA, said in a press release. “We now know that early intervention can set the stage for more positive self-regulation as children prepare for their school years.”

The guide, titled Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood, is the fourth in a series of evidence-based principles produced by the NIDA.

It includes research-based principles that affect children’s self-control and mental health, from pregnancy through age 8 years. These include:

lack of school readiness skills;
insecure attachment issues; and
signs of uncontrolled aggression in childhood behaviors.

The guide emphasizes the significant influence of sensitive transitions in a child’s life, such as a parent’s divorce, moving to a new home or starting school.

Research indicates that a stable home environment, adequate nutrition, physical and cognitive stimulation and supportive parenting lead to positive developmental outcomes.

Two supplemental sections for policymakers and practitioners provide greater detail on how early childhood interventions are designed and how to choose the appropriate strategies for a community’s specific needs.

“This guide is important reading for anyone who has an influence over a child’s life, from early development through the transition to elementary school,” Volkow said in the release.

For more information:

To access the full guide and its predecessors, visit http://www.nih.gov/news-events.