Extensively Tested, Life Skills Driven, Built for Today’s Students
L.E.A.D. is excited to announce the next evolution in its mission to support the health, safety, and future of America’s students. L.E.A.D (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence) introduces a brand-new curriculum for its member agencies through a newly signed partnership with Botvin LifeSkills® Training (LST).
This curriculum has real power and science behind it: a drug and violence prevention program to build lasting decision-making skills and other essential life skills that support students throughout their lives. Guided by extensive research and shaped by a dedicated science advisor, L.E.A.D. and Botvin LifeSkills Training will offer lessons and skills meant to stay with children well beyond the classroom.
“LST has been shown through more than 35 years of research to support students in both classroom and real-world settings. It meets schools and students where they are — from elementary through high school — and is designed for the challenges and realities young people face today,” said L.E.A.D. Scientific Advisory Board Chair Zili Sloboda. “It is truly the gold standard in evidence-based drug and violence prevention.”
Based on established research and backed by more than 40 peer-reviewed studies, LST has been associated with improved decision-making related to health,behavior, and future outcomes. Research findings linked to the program include:
- Reductions in drug use of up to 75%
- Reductions in alcohol use of up to 60%
- Reductions in tobacco use of up to 87%
- Reductions in violent or aggressive behaviors of up to 60%
“The science is clear about what works in preventing substance use and violence,”said Dr. Gilbert J. Botvin, professor emeritus at Cornell University’s Weill MedicalCollege and developer of the LST program. “After more than 35 years of scientific research we now have the tools to promote the health and wellbeing of our youth.We just have to use them. Too many schools are still using prevention programs that don’t work. Through this new initiative with L.E.A.D. we’re determined to change that.”
LST is the industry leader in school-based prevention education, grounded in decades of research and aligned with current best practices in student wellness, public safety, and community prevention education. It prepares students from every academic and socioeconomic background to move through the world with clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of self.
“We are incredibly proud to roll out LST in 2026. This curriculum reflects the strength of the partnership between students, educators and law enforcement. This collaboration elevates L.E.A.D. and LST to the national leader in school-based prevention delivered by law enforcement — and the science shows it works,” said Nick De Mauro, L.E.A.D. Executive Director and CEO. “This is about making a meaningful difference not just today, but throughout the lives of the students we serve.”
L.E.A.D. is honored to offer an evidence-based, life-skills-focused approach to prevention education. Standing together — aligned with research and committed to our communities — we are building a healthier future for our children.
About LST
Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) is an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program. LST has been extensively tested and proven to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by as much as 80%. Long-term follow-up studies show that it produces prevention effects that are durable and long-lasting.
About L.E.A.D.
L.E.A.D. — Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence — is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Allentown, N.J., dedicated to equipping law enforcement agencies with the resources, training, and curriculum to deliver effective drug and violence prevention education in schools and communities. Since its founding in 2015, L.E.A.D. has partnered with agencies nationwide, supporting more than 7,000 trained instructors who have reached more than one million students in more than 2,500 school systems. L.E.A.D. delivers prevention on the street and in the classroom through its Community Prevention Officer initiative and the Botvin LifeSkills® Training curriculum, the gold standard in evidence-based prevention education. L.E.A.D. is funded through donations and grants that support the organization’s national program and infrastructure, sustaining this work across every community it serves. For more information, visit LEADrugs.org or call 609-259-2500.