The ASAP Center helps community groups incorporate evidence-based alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention strategies in their regular activities.  These prevention strategies (models) include Asset Building and Lifestyle Risk Reduction.

These approaches build and support interactive community-based initiatives to positively shape healthy attitudes and norms related to alcohol and other drug use.

Asset Building

Most people care about the young people in their families and their communities.  They want to help them but don’t always know what to do.  The Search Institute, a nonprofit, independent research organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has identified what they call the 40 developmental assets: experiences and qualities that have been shown to have an influence on the lives and choices of youth and communities. These assets are grouped into eight categories: boundaries & expectations, commitment to learning, constructive use of time, empowerment, positive identity, positive values, social competencies, and support.

The asset framework helps everyone take their role in helping young people thrive.  Some of the principles of asset building are:

• Everyone can build assets
• All young people need assets
• Relationships are key
• Asset building is an ongoing process
• Consistent messages are important
• Intentional repetition is important

Building assets helps people make good decisions and be competent, caring, and responsible. For more information on the assets and ideas for becoming an asset-builder, visit www.search-institute.org or call the ASAP Center at 513-458-6640.

Click here to view the 40 Developmental Assets Power Point Presentation.

Lifestyle Risk Reduction

One of the developmental asset categories most closely associated with alcohol and other drug use is “Boundaries and Expectations”.  The lifestyle risk reduction approach to prevention provides the information needed to establish healthy boundaries and expectations regarding the use of alcohol.  Based on the public health approach to preventing lifestyle related diseases like heart disease and certain types of cancer, it provides the information needed to assess personal risk and make choices that reduce an individual’s risk of experiencing health and impairment problems resulting from alcohol use.  The lifestyle risk reduction approach is useful across the lifespan and can be used with youth, teens, and adults of all ages.  For more information on the lifestyle risk reduction approach to prevention visit

http://www.askpri.org/lrrm1.html or call the ASAP Center at 513-458-6640 or toll-free 888-310-4904.