Do you or someone you know know of a teenager who engages in unhealthy habits such as poor diet, drug or alcohol abuse, and who has risky sexual habits? It is necessary to maintain programs that help adolescents address these issues in an informed manner to help them adopt positive behaviors in daily life. Programs such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and the Boy and Girls Club of America help children and adolescents make informed decisions about their overall health and well-being. Research studies demonstrate that promoting and adopting healthy behaviors among youth is more effective and often easier than efforts to change unhealthy behaviors already established in adulthood. It is in the best interest of communities to properly educate adolescents on the importance of maintaining a healthy and safe lifestyle through classes and other educational programs in schools, community awareness programs and public service announcements such as television and other forms of media. .To begin with, public health has long tried to get involved in the daily lives of people in our society. In 1919, Prohibition marked the beginning of the first attempt at government intervention in drugs and alcohol. After the abolition of prohibition, drugs became a major public health concern. The United States faced its first drug epidemic in the early 20th century and its second in the 1970s. As new drugs like morphine, heroin, and cocaine were discovered, our society attempted to find a solution to drug abuse and addiction in the country. During the 1960s, drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics grew in popularity...... middle of paper ...... -414. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 2, 2014. Kumar R, O'Malley P, Johnston L, Laetz V. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Prevention Programs in U.S. Schools: A Descriptive Summary. Prevention science [online series]. December 2013;14(6):581-592. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 3, 2014. Landau, Elizabeth, CNNMoney's Melanie Hicken, Aaron Smith, Jen Christensen and Miriam Falco. “CVS stores will stop selling tobacco.” CNN. Cable News Network, February 5, 2014. Web. February 5, 2014. .Stigler M, Neusel E, Perry C. SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG YOUTH. Alcohol research and health [online series]. June 2011;34(2):157-162. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed in February 3, 2014.