Background: Progress in substance abuse prevention science could be accelerated by more closely aligning studies, methodologies, and intervention program testing with the ontogenetic orientations of its underlying theories and etiology research. This article introduces the Ontogenetic Prevention approach, describes some aspects of what this orientation offers for substance abuse prevention, and provides an overview of this full special issue.
Methods: Review of the substance abuse prevention literature illustrates specific aspects of Ontogenetic Prevention.
Conclusions: The Ontogenetic Prevention perspective and each of the manuscripts in this special issue provide channels whereby substance abuse prevention can evolve from a science that relies largely on universal intervention to diversification for meeting the needs of individuals under specific developmental circumstances.