An online guide about interventions in early
childhood that can help prevent drug use and other
unhealthy behaviors was launched by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National
Institutes of Health.
The guide offers research-based principles that
affect a child’s self-control and overall mental
health, starting during pregnancy through the eighth
year of life.
It recognizes that while substance use generally
begins during the teen years, it has known
biological, psychological, social, and environmental
roots that begin even before birth.
“Thanks to more than three decades of research into
what makes a young child able to cope with life’s
inevitable stresses, we now have unique
opportunities to intervene very early in life to
prevent substance use disorders,” said NIDA Director
Nora D. Volkow, M.D. “We now know that early
intervention can set the stage for more positive
self-regulation as children prepare for their school
years.”
Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early
Childhood addresses the major influences on a
child’s early development such as lack of school
readiness skills, insecure attachment issues, and
signs of uncontrolled aggression in childhood
behaviors.
Special attention is given to a child’s most
vulnerable periods during sensitive transitions,
such as a parents’ divorce, moving to a new home, or
starting school.
There is strong evidence that a stable home
environment, adequate nutrition, physical and
cognitive stimulation, and supportive parenting can
lead to good developmental outcomes.
Two supplemental sections for policymakers and
practitioners go into greater detail on how early
childhood interventions are designed and how to
select the right strategies for a community’s
specific needs. “This guide is important reading for
anyone who has an influence over a child’s life,
from early development through the transition to
elementary school,” added Volkow.
Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early
Childhood is the fourth in a series of
evidence-based principles produced by NIDA,
including: Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment;
Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder
Treatment; and Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment
for Criminal Justice Populations. The guide
concludes with a list of selected resources with
information on research-based early childhood drug
use prevention programs.
For more information
Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early
Childhood
Link...
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