Parent groups in drug abuse prevention: Is this the constituency we've been waiting for?

Prevention, although always intended to be a focus of community mental health centers, has suffered from lack of a defined constituency. In lean economic years when federal policy dictates private sector support, these resources become critical. For prevention of drug abuse, concerned parents across the country have joined together to form support groups. Are these parents groups the resource that mental health professionals need? Does this new breed of parent groups want to be one of our constituencies? Are mental health professionals willing to make the necessary adjustments in attitudes, management styles, and programs to reap the benefits of these new groups? This article explores experiences of working with a few parent groups in two different areas of the country in an effort to encourage prevention professionals to strengthen collaborative ties.