[Family prevention of drug use in Europe: a critical review of EDDRA programs].

In early adolescence, family is one of the main risk/protection agent for drug misuse. Its influence on health habits acquisition makes family a key target for prevention programs. The aim is to conduct a comparative analysis of European family prevention programs. For this purpose, 85 programs were reviewed. Programs were retrieved from EMCDDA database EDDRA (Exchange on Drug Demand Reduction Actions). No time period was delimited; hence time span was 1998-2011. 53% of all programs came from 4 countries (Ireland, Germany, Portugal and Spain). 89% were unspecific drug prevention or health promotion programs. Providing information about drugs is the main objective pursued by the majority of the programs. Over half the programs (59.7%) report having undergone an outcome evaluation process. Regarding the program objectives, 70.59% do not address any of the risk factors proposed by the main theories in international literature. Despite the solid theoretical framework that supports coherent evidence about family risk factors, prevention programs' objectives and components have a low theoretical compliance rate and the level of evaluation continues to be a challenge. Some aspects of the EDDRA functioning are reviewed.