What is primary prevention of addiction?

Primary prevention is assisting those who are at risk of developing addictive habits. Secondary prevention involves detecting potentially dangerous substance use before overt indications or problems appear. The purpose of the focus prevention is to stop disease or harm from happening in the first place. This is accomplished through avoiding disease or injury-causing dangers, altering unhealthy or risky behaviours that can lead to illness or injury, and developing sensitivity to disease or injury if exposure occurs.

Even though primary prevention strategies have been effective for the treatment of chronic physical diseases, they have been less effective in the treatment of SUD due to misunderstandings about disease, a shortage of behavioural health professionals, and a population-based focus on specific substances. It is necessary to establish a developmental approach to the detection and primary prevention of SUD that does not just rely on behavioural health specialists. The goal of this study was to look at age-related risk variables for SUD and provide a new customised strategy to SUD prevention.

A comprehensive primary prevention approach is necessary to succeed. "A condition of complete cultural and psychosocial well-being, not only the absence of sickness or infirmity," according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This term encompasses all aspects that have an impact on one's health. When dealing with substance misuse, the health promotion idea is applied. When people are equipped with the necessary information and skills, they have the ability to affect their own health and wellbeing. This has an impact on their decision-making, and they may take remedial action to enhance their own and the community's health.

Drug testing can be used at different phases of the preventative process. Drug screening can be used to not only dissuade drug use, but also to track compliance with sobriety programmes during secondary and tertiary prevention.