Effective Prevention in New Jersey

Prevention Overview E ffective prevention is grounded in science and guided by evidence-based strategies. When prevention is implemented using comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that align with community needs, it is possible – even likely – to prevent the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana/cannabis, prescription drugs, and other illegal substances. Coalitions across New Jersey and the nation are utilizing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model to plan and implement programs and interventions that follow these effective strategies. Starting with a comprehensive needs assessment, building community capacity, developing a strategic plan during the planning process, implementing evidence-based initiatives and evaluating your efforts make up the key components of the SPF. Coalitions are the building blocks of effective prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play. Everyone - government, businesses, educators, healthcare institutions, communities and every single American - has a role in creating a healthier nation.” iii New Jersey’s system of Regional Prevention Coalitions brings together these key sectors to collaborate and implement prevention efforts throughout the communities in which they live, work and play. While some prevention efforts focus on unique interventions for specific drugs such as opiates, many more work to address addiction from a deeper and more upstream perspective. We cannot be singularly focused on the impact of one specific drug. The Trust for America’s Health and Well Being report, The Pain in the Nation: The Drug, Alcohol and Suicide Crises and The Need for a National Resilience Strategy , states, “One thing is clear, there is an immediate need to develop an actionable national response to alcohol and drug misuse and death by suicide. Not only are these urgent health crises across this country, they are indicators of the need to go deeper and to look at underlying causes and opportunities to create an integrated approach to well-being for all people, and especially for those who are at a high risk for experiencing those challenges.” iv prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play. everyone...has a role in creating a healthier nation. “ “

PREVENTION PARABLE (STORY BY: IRVING ZOLA)

Addressing risk factors that affect youth, families and communities can reduce early first use of alcohol and marijuana and the misuse of other drugs such as prescription medications which can be the first step in a person’s path to addiction. We can share this well-known prevention parable to describe and help visualize our work. “Imagine a high waterfall that plunges into a large river. At the bottom of this waterfall, hundreds of people work along the shores of the river trying to save those who have fallen down the waterfall and are drowning in the river. As the people along the shore work frantically to rescue as many as possible, one person looks up at the seemingly never-ending stream of people falling down the waterfall and begins to run upstream. Another rescuer hollers, ‘Where are you going? There are so many people that need help here.’ To which the person replies, ‘I’m going upstream to find out why so many people are falling into the river.” v

Prevention happens all along the water’s edge, but it is often challenging to describe the importance of upstream efforts. Upstream refers to work that is needed to address the risk factors, social determinants of health and other contexts such as adverse childhood experiences that may lead to substance use and its negative consequences. Prevention strategies that can positively impact people where they work, live, play, and pray as well as building skills and other protective factors to support wellness must be implemented upstream. As an example, if a young person is incarcerated and services are provided in jail, sometimes for the first time, though

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