Effective Prevention in New Jersey

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES

Indicated

Indicated prevention strategies are designed to prevent the onset of substance use disorder in individuals who do not meet DSM-V criteria for addiction, but who are showing early danger signs, such as failing grades and

According to the Northeast & Caribbean Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Center for Prevention Science, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ under a cooperative agreement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), environmental prevention strategies are “interventions that modify or change the environment in which individuals make choices. The focus of environmental strategies is to change the environment in ways that encourage people to make healthy choices.” xix THE FOCUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES IS TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WAYS THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. “ “ Individual strategies focus directly on changing the individual’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB). Environmental strategies, rooted in public health, address population level or community-wide change. For example, if we teach children in schools that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are harmful (individual strategy focus), but those same children walk out of their school and into a world of advertising/media that glamorizes the fun side of substance use, shops that sell products to minors without checking ID, bars on every corner that allow public/outdoor use, and enforcement efforts that largely ignore these things, then the environment (or community) that surrounds them teaches them the opposite. Changing these environmental factors (i.e., using environmental strategies) in the world around these children impacts the entire population or community.

consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs.

The mission of indicated prevention is to identify individuals who are exhibiting early signs of substance use/misuse and other problem behaviors associated with substance use/misuse and to target them with special programs. The individuals are exhibiting substance use/ misuse-like behavior, but at a subclinical level (IOM 1994). Indicated prevention approaches are used for individuals who may or may not be using substances, but exhibit risk factors that increase their chances of developing a substance use disorder.

Indicated prevention programs address risk factors associated with the individual, such as conduct disorders, and alienation from parents, school, and positive peer groups. Less emphasis is placed on assessing or addressing environmental influences, such as community values. The aim of indicated prevention programs is not only the reduction in first time substance use, but also reduction in the length of time the signs continue, delay of onset of a substance use disorder, and reduction in the severity of a substance use disorder. Individuals can be referred to indicated prevention programs by parents, teachers, school counselors, school nurses, youth workers, friends, or the courts. Young people may volunteer to participate in indicated prevention programs. NOTE: In most cases, indicated strategies would be the most appropriate strategies for youth already involved with the juvenile justice system. xviii

For more information from the National Academy of Medicine, please visit: https://nam.edu/perspectives-2015-unleashing-the-power-of-prevention/

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