Although the problem identified drugs as the biggest problem facing toady's schools in the 1986 Gallup Poll Survey on education, only 16% of parents listed drugs. This handbook presents an action plan to overcome the denial of the drug problem in schools and a sets forth a comprehensive program to eliminate alcohol and other drugs from schools. In chapter 1, children relate their experiences of drug and alcohol use at school. Chapter 2 explains how drug use affects a school and why it continues. Steps in the formation of a community task force are described in the third chapter. The fourth chapter details the features of an effective substance abuse prevention program, and the final chapter describes the evolution of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public School System prevention program and its revised regulations. A theme of the book is that the school is responsible for providing an alcohol- and drug-free environment, identifying users, and directing their families to support services. An extensive resource section is included. (LMI)