This manual begins with an overview and introduction to the issue of prescription drug abuse as a serious prevention issue in the United States today, providing some statistics supporting this position. The chapter on campaign overview describes its two primary goals: to increase public awareness and equip communities with strategies to deal with the problem. A section on how to determine if your community has a prescription drug abuse problem discusses two types of data that can be collected, archival and survey. Stages of awareness are described as community tolerance/no knowledge, denial, and vague awareness with recommended strategies for addressing each. The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) prescription drug abuse prevention campaign, or the development of a community anti-drug coalition, is described with information on the content of the "message" and a list of who needs to be involved and why, for example, the media, the medical community, local businesses, educational systems, concerned citizens, and youth. The media primer section includes a sample letter to the editor, a sample radio public service announcement, a sample Op-eds (opinion/editorials), a sample press release, and information on how to write an effective radio script and/or press release. Some talking points for community leaders are suggested. A list of online resources is also provided.