Which intervention aligns with addressing adolescent substance use in community health?

• A. Abstinence-only education
• B. Parish-based counseling only
• C. School-based prevention programs
• D. Punitive disciplinary actions

Answer: (C)

Addressing adolescent substance use within community health relies on interventions that reach many youths and are supported by evidence. School-based prevention programs fit this approach because they’re delivered where most teens spend their days, can be offered to a broad audience, and are designed to change knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to drug use. Effective programs often include interactive activities, skills training for resisting peer pressure, information about risks, and strategies to build decision-making and social competence. When implemented with fidelity and linked to supportive family and community resources, they can reduce initiation and risky use across populations.

Abstinence-only education tends to lack strong, consistent evidence of effectiveness in reducing use and may limit comprehensive harm-reduction messaging. Parish-based counseling alone, while valuable, reaches a limited segment and doesn’t address broader environmental factors or provide universal coverage. Punitive disciplinary actions may deter some behaviors temporarily but don’t tackle underlying causes and can lead to negative consequences such as disengagement or stigmatization.