Schools and communities must join forces to reduce drug abuse, and several strategies can be employed by schools and communities to reduce the probability of drug abuse. Communitywide interventions must be paired with appropriate and successful components of school programs to decrease drug abuse. These interventions must be implemented in various settings, such as community centers and schools, in order to be effective. Multiple social systems need to be targeted, and effective prevention needs to address the health and success of youth. The model approach must start very early in a child's life and continue through the teenage years into early adulthood. In addition, the model approach should target everyone, not just groups defined as being at risk for drug abuse. The model program's overall management must have broad-based community support, with management responsibilities delegated to schools and to community, business, and social service agencies. Participation of children and their families needs to be ensured by providing the necessary transportation to all program activities. 41 references