SummaryEmphasis upon a public health model with two elements of primary prevention (non‐specific health promotion and specific protection) is employed to critique methods and techniques listed in twenty‐seven curriculum outlines and guidelines for drug abuse prevention programs in elementary schools. Responses from twenty‐four states and territories, five cities, a federal agency and a private association are listed.The techniques, which were most often cited, using grade five as a base, were: the listing and the classification of drugs, the use of role play and/or dramatization, the discussion of prescription vs. non‐prescription drugs, the use of bulletin board displays, the discussion of drug storage, the discussion of the history of drugs, suggestions for a doctor or nurse presentation, and the collection of articles and advertisements about drugs.Critique of existing methods is based upon the finding that most programs focused upon specific protection rather than upon the non‐specific health promotional aspects of primary p