This program was created by the Juvenile Justice Staff at the Essex County District Attorney’s (ECDA) office. Results indicate the essential elements of drug abuse prevention programs were compiled based on literature review and interviews with substance abuse experts. Based on this information it became clear that many elements of CTR aligned with national best practices. CTR is a collaborative, multi-pronged approach that combines the knowledge of various experts and is customized to the developmental needs of youth in Essex County. Strengths related to the CTR curriculum include that it is built on research-based theory; teaches refusal skills as an element of the program; emphasizes normative social behavior, behavior of the population in general, and demonstrates that most people do not use drugs; employs interactive teaching techniques; is currently designed to address the language, lifestyle, and social situations of young people in Essex County, MA; and has flexibility built into its delivery that allows facilitators to make adjustments for cultural or learning differences in the classroom. Limitations of the program and future recommendations are also addressed. Table, figures, appendix, and references