Prevention & Capacity Building

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse is arguably the most pervasive problem facing West Virginia. It is a complex problem that crosses age, gender, economic, social and cultural boundaries, and it is a significant contributor to almost all our social and public health issues. There are virtually NO parts of the state unaffected by substance abuse. The issue is intertwined with law enforcement, courts, health care, education, social services, and economic development. Financially, substance abuse issues costs WV more than $1.8 billion in direct and indirect costs each year. Like other states, of every dollar spent, 96¢ goes to shoveling up the wreckage of substance abuse and only 4¢ is used to prevent and treat it.

PREVENTION

Research has shown that a broad array of evidence-based programs and practices can effectively prevent substance abuse, promote mental health, and prevent related health and social problems by reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors. Effective prevention strategies are not simple, one-shot activities, and no individual, organization or government agency, can prevent substance abuse on its own. They are on-going, and comprehensive…meaning they address substance abuse in the population from a time before someone first tries alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, to a time long after substance abuse has become a problem. Effective prevention is also community-based. It focuses on changing the local climate that has given rise to many problems such as substance abuse.

WV supports the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Strategic Prevention Framework includes the following components:
--assessment (determining assets and needs based on epidemiological data),
--capacity building (improving abilities),
--planning (selecting evidence-based strategies to match assessed needs),
--implementation (putting strategies into action),
--evaluation (documenting outcomes),
--sustainability (ensuring longevity), and
--cultural competence (incorporating appropriate ethnic/cultural considerations).

Image of Assessment, Capacity, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation, with Sustainability and Cultural Competence binding the previous together.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Communities must have the capacity to make positive, sustainable change at the local level. Capacity is made up of three components or capitals - physical/fiscal, human, and social capital. Physical/fiscal capital refers to money and other material resources such as facilities, supplies, etc. Human capital refers to the knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences of individuals and groups. Social capital refers the quality of relationships within bonding) and between (bridging) groups.