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Drugs and Alcohol

There are many factors associated with an increased risk of alcohol and drug problems among young people and adults. These are often factors that lead to other adverse outcomes and risky behaviour, such as mental health problems, offending or risky sexual behaviour.

Alcohol and drug prevention tackles the risk factors which increase the likelihood of someone suffering harm. It can help build resilience to developing alcohol and drug problems. It can also help people avoid problems by providing opportunities for alternative, healthier life choices and developing better skills and decision making. 

Although there is little to no evidence that information alone changes behaviour, it can help reduce harm and inform choice.

Alcohol and drug prevention interventions can have a broad range of aims from preventing any use at all, through reducing use, to preventing dependency.

Prevention interventions that influence drug and alcohol use are often not drug and alcohol-specific and may already exist as broader interventions.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-drug-and-alcohol-misuse-effective-interventions