Substance Use Prevention

Substance misuse is one of the most intractable public health problems of our time. The goal of substance use prevention is to create healthy community contexts where misusing substances is less possible and probable, particularly among youth and young adults. The following resources are intended to assist public health professionals in effectively leading substance use prevention programs.

For information on receiving training and technical assistance from IPS to support your substance use prevention efforts, please contact us.

Webinars / Tools / Hot Topics

Webinars

IPS’ free webinar series provides learned insights into how to effectively lead substance use prevention programs.

Utilizing Public Art in Prevention

In this webinar, we offer insight and examples on how public art can reduce SUD-related harms in underserved communities. We also explore how public art has been utilized to address blight and increase public safety with Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.

Watch webinar >

Breaking the Cycle of ACEs

Research has established the link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and increased susceptibility for substance use disorders later in life. Too often, inequitable policies aggravate this link, inducing stress in certain communities that undermines community and child wellbeing. In this webinar, we explore how public health providers can partner with communities to build resilience and break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

Watch webinar >

Gay Men and the Crystal Meth Epidemic: Making the Case for Harm Reduction

Gay men are one of the groups most impacted by the crystal meth epidemic, with the percentage of use estimated to be as high as 1 in 5. This also has a significant impact on new HIV cases. In this webinar, we introduce promising new harm reduction strategies being used to address the crisis.

Watch webinar >

Taking Pride: A new look at reducing substance use disorders within the LGBTQ+ community

Spanning culture, race, age, and religious affiliation, the LGBTQ+ community is truly a rainbow. Unfortunately, adverse experiences and toxic stress create conditions where community members are at higher risk of substance use disorders and emotional health issues. In this webinar, we examine the relationship between toxic stress, mental health, and substance use disorders within the LGBTQ+ community.

Watch webinar >

Tools

IPS’ substance use prevention tools are designed to assist providers in the field with implementing upstream programs focused on reducing substance misuse.

Key Stakeholder Interview Template

A sample script for conducting effective Key Stakeholder Interviews with community members to assess a range of substance use issues.
Download tool >

Environmental Scan Form

A checklist for assessing the business practices of liquor stores.
Download tool >

Youth Alcohol Use Survey

A sample survey to assess youth alcohol use, including points of access, age of onset, and correlated harms.
Download tool >

Youth Focus Group Protocol

A sample script to conduct youth focus groups assessing peer substance use, including frequency and points/ease of access.
Download tool >

Hot Topics

Our IPS-authored Hot Topics provide perspectives on important national conversations happening around substance use prevention.

A Perfect Storm: When Climate Change, Racial Justice, and Mental Health Collide

April is a busy month for mental health awareness: National Minority Health Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, and Stress Awareness Month…
Read more >

Taxing Alcohol to Protect Public Health and Safety Is a Good Thing

Most people cringe at the idea of paying more taxes, including on alcoholic products. But when weighed against the cost that alcohol puts on communities, healthcare, and society, a strong case exists…
Read more >

How the “Housing Theory of Everything” Can Help Explain Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

Up until the 1980s, common knowledge held that preventing addiction to substances, be they narcotic drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, were issues to be dealt with at the individual level through education…
Read more >

Tackling the Alcohol Culture on College Campuses: Do Late Night Programming Alternatives Work?

Imagine thousands of college students, gathered in a carnival atmosphere, some playing inflatable games, others climbing a rock wall, many dancing under the moonlight to a live band…
Read more >

Do Harm Reduction Practices Help People Stop Using Drugs?

Drug overdose deaths reached a record high during the pandemic. By April 2021, more than 100,000 people died from an overdose…
Read More >

Alcohol is Hurting Women

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this time dedicated to women’s health, it would be remiss not to reflect on a dramatic truth – women are drinking more than ever, and unfortunately, alcohol use is…
Read more >

Up in Smoke: Marijuana is Erasing Decades of Progress Toward Smoke-Free Environments

A recent Los Angeles countywide survey of 13,500 residents revealed pervasive public exposure to marijuana* smoke in parks, schools, apartment buildings, business complexes and outdoor spaces. Completed in 2019 by the LA County Prevention Provider Network, the survey found…
Read more >

Substance Abuse Is A Public Health Issue, Yet Sketchy Policies Have Ruined Many POC Lives

The United States passed its first substance abuse policy 100 years ago, the Harrison Act. It regulated opiates and cocaine. Prior to that time, drugs had been considered a public health problem to be dealt with…
Read more >

Substance Use Prevention

Webinars

Utilizing Public Art in Prevention

Breaking the Cycle of ACEs

Gay Men and the Crystal Meth Epidemic: Making the Case for Harm Reduction

Taking Pride: A new look at reducing substance use disorders within the LGBTQ+ community

Tools

Key Stakeholder Interview Template

Environmental Scan Form

Youth Alcohol Use Survey

Youth Focus Group Protocol

Hot Topics

A Perfect Storm: When Climate Change, Racial Justice, and Mental Health Collide

Taxing Alcohol to Protect Public Health and Safety Is a Good Thing

How the “Housing Theory of Everything” Can Help Explain Alcohol and Other Drug Problems

Tackling the Alcohol Culture on College Campuses: Do Late Night Programming Alternatives Work?

Do Harm Reduction Practices Help People Stop Using Drugs?

Alcohol is Hurting Women

Up in Smoke: Marijuana is Erasing Decades of Progress Toward Smoke-Free Environments

Substance Abuse Is A Public Health Issue, Yet Sketchy Policies Have Ruined Many POC Lives

LOCATIONS

FACEBOOK