Not all strategies are equally strong—and all are more effective when used in conjunction with others. Policy, for example, is most effective when paired with collaboration and communication. Education, which is usually insufficient to produce long-lasting change on its own, works best when paired with another strategy, such as enforcement of laws against service to intoxicated patrons and sales to minors. Communications is most likely to be effective if combined with more interactive strategies, such as education, policy, and/or enforcement.

Using multiple strategies in multiple settings, working toward a few common goals, offers the best chance to prevent young people from using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Please insert into your computer the CD-ROM (Disc 2) you received from us and play the Multiple Strategies video. To read a copy of the video transcript, click on the print video icon.

This case example describes how the Gloucester Prevention Network in Gloucester, Massachusetts combined communications, collaboration, and policy strategies to reduce drunk driving.

After watching the video, please consider the following questions and post your answers on the Message Board:

1. How might you apply what you have learned during this course to your own prevention work? Describe one new or different thing you plan to do to strengthen your current prevention program.
   
   
2. Are there other new strategies you might try? Why those strategies?
   
   
3. How will you combine strategies to address existing problems?

After you have answered the questions, please review and respond to the comments made by your fellow participants. Do you agree with their responses? Disagree? Need clarification? Post your feedback to the Message Board. Then come back and visit regularly—others may have posed questions to you!

You have completed this module.
Please return tomorrow for a summary and wrap up of the
week’s discussion (Module 9).