A family-directed program to reduce tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents. Families with adolescents aged 12 to 14 are targeted because at these ages, many have not yet used the substances. The program features four successively mailed booklets and follow-up telephone contacts by health educators. Booklet 1 focuses on motivating families to participate in the program. Booklet 2 focuses on general family characteristics known or believed to influence adolescent drug use that are not specific to drug behavior. Booklet 3 addresses tobacco and alcohol-specific risk factors. Booklet 4 addresses substance use risk factors outside the family. A health educator contacts a parent by telephone after each booklet to encourage participation by all family members, answer questions, and record information. The adolescent is reached through family members and is never contacted directly by the health educator. The program and all related materials may be downloaded for free from the website: http://familymatters.sph.unc.edu.