A comprehensive review of prevention literature identified at least seven current views of appropriate end goals for drug prevention interventions. These include, inter alia, eliminating patterns of pathological drug use, reducing the incidence of transition from experimental to repetitive use of drugs, eliminating all use of drugs, delaying early onset of drug use, and reducing initiation of the so-called gateway substances including alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. The variables that current etiologic studies consider when identifying children and adolescents at higher risk for drug use include individual behavioral factors, individual attitudinal factors, individual psychological factors, family environment factors, and community environment factors. The author suggests several ideas to enlarge the scope and precision of future drug prevention programs; these relate to program strength, individual-in-environment assessment techniques, and access analysis for program delivery. 1 table, 2 figures, and 23 references