To mount a successful drug prevention effort, communities should take inventory of several aspects of a proposed program: (1) whether program goals are clearly understood to gain consensus among those in key community organizations; (2) whether strategies to reach program goals are viable, understood, and accepted; (3) whether interventions are designed to appropriately apply to the stage in which the community's drug abuse problems are found (early, established, or crisis); (4) whether the program focuses on the most serious drug abuse problems; and (5) whether the program considers the many issues beyond drug abuse that concern the community. Recommendations are offered to guide drug prevention programs, and each recommendation is accompanied by key steps and implementation strategies. Resources available to facilitate drug prevention programs are listed.