Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs

Return to Opioid Top-Level Strategy Map 

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A key part of addressing the opioid crisis (and addiction in general) is to have a multi-faceted plan to reduce the factors that lead to people intentionally misusing medications or taking drugs and to increase the protective factors that reduce the likelihood of going down the path that leads to a Substance Use Disorder. 

 

Background

This strategy is an important aspect of prevention.  Some of the types of things that improve protective factors (or reduce the other factors that lead to misuse) include: 

• Minimizing and addressing trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences to reduce the likelihood of self-medication
• Reducing bullying and improving social healthy connections 
• The Search Institute identifys  a framework of 40 developmental assets that lead to positive youth development

Tools & Resources

Drugabuse.gov offers a good fact sheet on risk factors and protective factors.

TR - Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs

 

Promising Programs

Communities that Care

CTC guides communities through a proven five-phase change process. Using prevention science as its base, CTC promotes healthy youth development, improves youth outcomes, and reduces problem behaviors. The foundation of CTC is the "Social Development Strategy."

Results

• 25% less likely to have initiated delinquent behavior
• 32% less likely to have initiated the use of alcohol
• 33% less likely to have initiated cigarette use than control community youths

Find out how to bring CTC to your community here.
see brief overview in this doc below:

Communities That Care

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