Book excerpt: One of the goals of the Nat. Institute on Drug Abuse is to help the public understand the causes of drug abuse and to prevent its onset. This is a summary of topics covered in the newest ed. of the guide, "Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents", which includes updated principles, new questions and answers, new program information, and expanded references and resources. This In Brief edition summarizes sections of the guide for community use. Chapters: Prevention Principles; Risk Factors and Protective Factors; Planning for Drug Abuse Prevention in the Community; Applying Prevention Principles to Drug Abuse Prevention Programs; Examples of Research-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs; and Selected Resources and References.