However, universal programmes have little
role in preventing drug-use amongst young
people from vulnerable groups who are most
at risk of developing drug problems. There
are two reasons for this. Firstly, they may not
be attending school because they have been
excluded or because they have stopped
attending. Secondly, young people most at
risk tend to be unresponsive to universal
programmes because they do not address
their specific needs. In order to reduce drug
problems in high risk groups, we need to
provide carefully designed and targeted
programmes.