Botvin’s Life Skills

Promotion and prevention works.  Universal instruction around the specific skills needed for avoiding risky behaviors like drug use will reduce the percentage of young people choosing to use drugs and delay the onset of drug use by young people.  Vaping, opioids and other “epidemics” will come and go- but root causes of drug use like the understanding the legitimate health risks of the use of illicit drugs will make a difference.  Our young people are not affected by scare tactics nor does hyperbole persuade them; this “ask siri” generation wants facts and they respond well when treated as informed persons able to decide what is best.  Many of our young people when equipped with appropriate coping mechanisms and pertinent accurate information will choose wisely for themselves and help their peers make positive choices as well.