Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs.

This is the second updated edition of the Standards and has been published jointly with the World Health Organisation. As in the case of the first edition, the Standards summarize the currently available scientific evidence, describing interventions and policies that have been found to result in positive prevention outcomes and their characteristics. Concurrently, the document identifies the major components and features of an effective national drug prevention system. It is our hope that the Standards will assist policy makers worldwide to develop programmes, policies and systems that are a truly effective investment in the future of children, youth, families and communities. This work builds on and recognizes the work of many other organizations (e.g. EMCDDA, CCSA, CICAD, Mentor, NIDA, WHO) which have previously developed standards and guidelines on various aspects of drug prevention.

• The Joint Ministerial Statement on the mid-term review of the implementation by Member States of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action;
• Resolution 57/3 - Promoting prevention of drug abuse based on scientific evidence as an investment in the well-being of children, adolescents, youth, families and communities; and,
• Resolution 58/3 - Promoting the protection of children and young people, with particular reference to the illicit sale and purchase of internationally or nationally controlled substances and of new psychoactive substances via the Internet.
• Resolution 58/7
  Strengthening cooperation with the scientific community, including academia, and promoting scientific research in drug demand and supply reduction policies in order to find effective solutions to various aspects of the world drug problem (operative paragraph 2)
• Resolution 59/6
  Promoting prevention strategies and policies (operative paragraphs 5 and 14)
• Outcome Document of UNGASS 2016 on the World Drug Problem (paragraph 1.(h))
• Resolution 60/7
  Promoting scientific evidence-based community, family and school programmes and strategies for the purpose of preventing drug use among children and adolescents
• Resolution 61/2
  Strengthening efforts to prevent drug abuse in educational settings
• Resolution 61/9
  Protecting children from the illicit drug challenge
• 2019 Ministerial Declaration
• Resolution 63/4
  Promoting the involvement of youth in drug prevention efforts