Building Blocks for a Healthy Future is an early childhood substance abuse prevention program developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Designed for parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 6, Building Blocks will help you open up the lines of communication with young children-and make it easier to keep those lines of communication open as they grow older.

Why do youth abuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs? How can you tell when a young person is using, and how should you respond? What if a student tells you that someone else is using drugs? This hands-on resource provides an overview of the substances kids are most likely to use (including over-the-counter drugs and increasingly popular inhalants), concise descriptions of effects and warning signs, and a guide to working with youth, parents, the school, social workers, and law enforcement. Comprehensive, realistic, and optimistic, it follows the entire cycle of substance abuse, from experimentation to recovery.