The new emphasis in the war against drugs is on law enforcement strategies and efforts to persuade Americans to reject drugs. Few drug experts believe this is effective and some concede that they know very little about how to prevent drug experimentation and addiction. No single approach to prevention is likely to be effective for all drugs and all stages of drug use. Strategies should incorporate an understanding of the personal, social, and societal influences associated with a particular form of drug use. Most previous prevention efforts including school-based programs have had little or no impact because they have focused on only one element of the problem, failing to consider differential needs or effects. Prevention strategies will be ineffective in reducing illicit drug use if there is a failure to address the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs as well. 16 footnotes.