Interviews with school district personnel responsible for substance abuse education addressed the placement of substance abuse in the curriculum, the time allotted, the training of teachers, program approaches, and curriculum objectives. Information was also obtained on discipline policies, suspensions and expulsions, school district characteristics, and budgets. Courses are described for elementary level (K-6), junior high (7-9), and high school (9-12). The review of community-based programs considers mass media campaigns, high-risk groups, and new Federal funding for prevention. The study concludes there is little evidence that prevention programs have changed behavior significantly. Generally, the school programs have implemented some of the promising new prevention techniques, such as resistance training. Health department and private-sector efforts are apparently less current in this regard and could benefit from some of the techniques used in the school programs. There is justification for expanding local prevention efforts. 12 footnotes.