Prevention Gone Wrong:

The Do’s, Don’ts, and the Common-Sense Lessons in Drug Prevention for Children and Youth

In a world where ineffective prevention efforts can do more harm than good, Prevention Gone Wrong takes a bold and evidence-based approach to drug prevention. This book challenges outdated scare tactics, misinformation, and counterproductive strategies that have shaped the field for decades. Instead, it offers practical, research-backed alternatives that genuinely support young people in making healthier choices.

prevention gone wrong

Why Buy This Book?

If you care about drug prevention—whether as a parent, teacher, policymaker, or prevention professional—this book is an essential read. It debunks common myths, exposes well-intentioned but flawed strategies, and provides actionable insights grounded in science. Instead of fear-based messaging, Prevention Gone Wrong focuses on empowering youth through resilience, critical thinking, and supportive environments.

prevention gone wrong

Who Can Benefit from This Book?

Educators & Prevention Specialists – Learn how to implement prevention strategies that truly work.
Parents & Caregivers – Understand what influences your child’s decisions and how to have meaningful conversations.
Policymakers & Advocates – Get the facts on what prevention policies make a real impact.
NGOs & Community Leaders – Discover how to build more effective prevention programs.

About the Author

Matej Košir

Matej Košir is an internationally recognized expert in prevention science and public health advocacy. With over two decades of experience, he has worked on numerous projects at national and international levels, particularly within the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). His dedication to evidence-based policies has made him a leading voice in the field of prevention.

What Experts Say

Diana Fishbein

Diana Fishbein, Ph.D., a leading prevention scientist, praises Prevention Gone Wrong for its refreshing, research-driven approach. She highlights Matej’s ability to bridge science with real-world application, emphasizing the importance of relationships, social and emotional development, and critical thinking over outdated scare tactics. According to Fishbein, this book is not just an insightful read—it’s a call to action for everyone invested in the well-being of young people.

What Experts Say

Pall Rikhardsson

Chief Executive Officer at Planet Youth (Iceland). Educator and researcher at Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)

I recently enjoyed reading Prevention Gone Wrong by Matej Košir. This book provides a lighthearted yet insightful overview of youth drug prevention practices that have been used over the years. Many of these practices aim to scare kids away from drugs by sharing alarming stories from police officers or recovering addicts. Others overload young people with statistical data in hopes they’ll make rational, informed decisions. Unfortunately, these approaches often place the responsibility solely on the shoulders of youth—an expectation that has proven to be far less effective than community-based strategies. One such community-based strategy is the Icelandic Prevention Model, which has demonstrated remarkable results by involving the entire community in creating a supportive environment for youth. Rather than isolating young people with fear tactics or data overload, it focuses on building strong, protective networks and fostering healthy lifestyle choices. This book is a valuable read for anyone interested in prevention, community engagement, or youth advocacy. Highly recommended!

What Experts Say

Dr. Wadih Maalouf

Global Prevention Programme Coordinator, Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

A well-thought-out and highly recommended read for a diverse audience:

For experts in prevention: It offers valuable insights on how to address and counter ineffective or counterproductive prevention strategies in a lighthearted and easily communicable way.
For policymakers involved in prevention: It provides thought-provoking perspectives to reflect on, without sounding pretentious or feeling like a personal attack—just friendly and convincing
advice.
For those considering a future in prevention: It serves as a great starting point, offering a solid foundation and highlighting pitfalls to avoid. In a nutshell: A useful, easy, and enjoyable read for all—a true crowd-pleaser (if you’re in the
prevention crowd).

Kudos for putting this out there, Matej!

What Experts Say

Dr. Mousa Al-Tareefi

The Jordan Anti Drugs Society’s CEO

Reading Prevention Gone Wrong by Matej Košir was an incredibly enriching experience. The book offers a refreshing and much-needed critique of outdated prevention methods, such as fear-based messaging and moral panic tactics, which have unfortunately persisted in many programs around the world. Matej skillfully explains why these strategies fail and how they can even backfire, causing more harm than good. What stood out most to me was the clarity and practicality of the research-backed alternatives he proposes.

The book doesn’t just point out what’s wrong—it offers constructive solutions rooted in science, common sense, and respect for young people. As someone actively working in prevention, I found these insights highly relevant and immediately applicable to real-life programming and community outreach efforts.

Matej’s work is a valuable contribution to the global prevention field. His passion for protecting youth through evidence-based, compassionate, and realistic approaches shines through every chapter. I highly recommend this book to all professionals, educators, and policymakers involved in prevention—it will challenge your thinking, broaden your perspective, and ultimately improve your practice.

What Experts Say

Cristina von Sperling Afridi

Founder/Chairperson at Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAW), Pakistan

Many people still believe in outdated drug prevention methods, but the book Prevention Gone Wrong by Matej Košir immediately sparks curiosity—even from the title—and brilliantly clarifies the topic. As someone who strongly believes that Prevention is Education and the key to reducing drug addiction, I found this book both eye-opening and reassuring. It’s essential that we recognize the most effective prevention practices—and Matej succeeds in clearly expressing this throughout his book. As I went through the chapters, I was pleased and relieved to realize that at KKAWF, we also steer clear of the common “Don’ts.”

We believe in prevention based on Love and Logic, which aligns perfectly with the principles highlighted in the book. Written with a dash of humor, the book makes an otherwise heavy and critical subject easy to understand, relatable, and applicable across all levels of society and among diverse cultures and nationalities. A must-read for teachers, parents, and anyone involved in shaping healthier futures for young people.

Don’t settle for ineffective prevention strategies. Discover what truly works—get your copy of Prevention Gone Wrong today!

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