The Importance of Substance Abuse Prevention Programs
Drug prevention programs are an incredibly important part of drug treatment because drug addiction is a powerful and harmful disease. We already know that drug abuse and addiction take a toll on health, ruin relationships, destroy careers, and do irreparable damage to lives. Worse still, addiction is a chronic problem. It can be treated and managed, but on some level, it’s always one wrong turn away from coming right back in force.
Knowing all this, the best possible treatment for drug addiction is prevention. The symptoms and problems associated with drug addiction are so difficult to deal with, the only way to keep a person truly free from them is to never be involved with them in the first place. As with any disease, prevention is the best medicine.
NORA is involved in a number of community programs working to prevent substance abuse through a number of evidence-based approaches. Let’s talk about what works, what doesn’t, and where the all-important drug prevention step goes from here.
Building Bridges to Recovery
Providing positive bridges of hope for youth ages 13-24 at high risk for HIV, STD’s and substance use disorders living in Cuyahoga County.
Our goal is to partner with various community sectors to implement community-based substance misuse and HIV prevention strategies.
- Providing free condom distribution to Cuyahoga County youth to practice safe sex.
- Offering evidence-based education. Cuyahoga County youth to practice safe sex.
- Guided help for clients living with or newly diagnosed with HIV by peer navigators.
- Providing testing and treatment services for HIV, STD, and hepatitis.
- Creating non-stigmatizing public message campaigns that focus on the awareness of HIV.
- Providing free condom distribution to Cuyahoga County youth to practice safe sex.
East Cleveland Bridges of Hope
The Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) created by the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, is the Nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth drug use.
East Cleveland Bridges of Hope (ECBOH) includes law enforcement, local government officials, healthcare and business representatives, youth serving organizations, the media, faith community members, parents, prevention and treatment providers, youth and mental health authorities.
Components of environmental prevention:
Policy: Design public policy to limit access to substances and decrease the problems associated with their use.
Enforcement: Consistently enforce the laws designed to reduce the problems of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Education: Inform the public about the magnitude of substance abuse problems and educate about the laws and prevention strategies.
Jumpstart for a Better Tomorrow
Jumpstart for a better tomorrow (JSBT) project is a full-service mentorship program that provides substance use prevention, wraparound and therapeutic.
JSBT addresses the abuse of drugs, including prescription and combines, life skills training, work experience, and school credit by placing youth in internships related to their current or prospective studies.
- Field trips, life and social skill development, academic enrichment & physical fitness activities
- Internships
- Career Exploration Activities
- Classroom Success
- Communication Skills & Public Speaking
- Financial Literacy
- Entrepreneurship
Strategic Prevention Framework - Hope1
Health Opportunities Prevention and Empowerment (HOPE1) project is a full-service mentorship program that provides substance use prevention, wraparound, mental and behavioral health services. HOPE1 addresses substance use/abuse, including prescription drugs. This project combines life skills training, and evidence-based programming to deter youth from drugs and alcohol use.
Services include:
Mentoring: The program matches at risk youth with pro-social adults, who serve as life coaches and role models for appropriate behavior.
Tutors: Help with homework and test preparation, which enhances learning abilities.
For all questions and concerns:
Anthony Simmons, Prevention Team Manager
Phone: 216-391 6672 ext. 119
Email: asimmons@norainc.org
