The paper begins by discussing the merits of community-based drug abuse prevention and then reviews the background and nature of drug use among youth who are at inordinately high risk for using and encountering problems associated with drugs. The authors offer an approach to intervening with high-risk youth to prevent drug use and its attendant problems. The community-based prevention approach includes relevant theory, applicable principles, and specific strategies and specifically focuses on skills intervention, parental involvement, and community involvement. Results from community-based interventions are discussed, and strengths and limitations of a community-based prevention approach to combat drug use problems among high-risk youth are summarized. Additional research is recommended to refine and expand the community-based prevention approach. 60 references