A survey released today by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation affirms that drugs continue to be the most important problem facing America's children.

"We have learned a great deal about how adults can prevent and reduce drug problems in the 11 years since this last survey measuring concerns about kids was taken," says David Rosenbloom, director of Join Together, a national resource for communities fighting substance abuse and gun violence.

Here are steps adults can take to do something about drugs:

• Talk with kids in your care early, frequently and honestly about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Kids whose parents talk to them about these substances are substantially less likely to use them. RESOURCE: PRIDE (www.pride.org)

• Set a good example in your own home. Do not allow drunkenness in your home. Set reasonable,but firm rules that you plan to enforce. RESOURCE: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (www.madd.org)

• Find out if your schools have effective drug, alcohol and tobacco education programs, including early identification and referral for problems. An effective program includes teaching refusal skills, training for teachers and active participation of family and community. RESOURCE: Drug Strategies (www.drugstrategies.org)

• Make sure that every child in your care has adult supervision after school through sports programs, church, library or an afterschool childcare arrangement. RESOURCES: Just Say No International (www.justsayno.org); YMCA; Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YWCA

• Click for the Survey Press Release