Prior to the 1980s most schools around the country had courses in health education, tobacco education, alcohol education, or drug education. In these courses, students typically were taught that using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs was bad for their health. Students learned how these substances affected the body, how long the effects lasted, and even how people used them. Many of these education programs tried to scare students by pointing out how many people die each year from drug abuse. The people who designed these programs believed that if students really knew how harmful smoking, drinking, or using drugs is, they would not do it. However, teaching facts or using scare tactics did not work as people expected, and prevention programs had to change. New research showed that, to be effective, prevention programs must deal with the causes of drug abuse.

Most people who use...