Prevention
The Florida Drug Control Strategy in 1999 identified prevention as critical to reducing drug abuse in Florida. Florida institutionalized its prevention approach with the publication of the Florida Prevention System, a science-based approach to formulating and directing substance abuse prevention efforts. This system delineates the risk and protective factors that can be affected to decrease the incidence of substance abuse and recognizes the six crucial areas that can be influenced to prevent the use of substances: the individual, the family, peers, schools, communities, and society as a whole.
The core principles for all state-level prevention efforts in Florida include collaboration of key stakeholders and agencies; support of community anti-drug coalitions, braiding of funding resources from multiple sources, and the use of the SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework model which includes the following steps:
- Profiling community needs, resources, and readiness
- Mobilizing community resources and building capacity
- Developing strategic plans
- Supporting evidence-based prevention
- Monitoring local activity performance
Drug-Free Communities
Please see Drug Free Communities (DFC) for more information.
Grants for the Drug-Free Community program provide support for communities to implement evidence-based programs or prevention strategies designed to do the following:
- prevent youth drug use and violence;
- involve parents and communities; and
- coordinate with related state, school and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that promotes student academic achievement.
Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention
The Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention functions as a unit of the Office of Drug Control within the Executive Office of the Governor. The creation of the Office is a vital step in having this issue recognized by the Legislature and will serve as a model to other states that the prevention of suicide needs to be a priority. The Office plays a critical role in integrating the statewide effort but it is the partnerships around the state through which change occurs and the work gets done.
Youth Alcohol Abuse Prevention
Florida has led the nation in leading its children away from substance abuse. For decades, alcohol has been the most widespread substance of abuse by youth. We believe youth alcohol norms can be changed. Florida takes a holistic approach to reducing underage drinking, bringing together the prevention community, treatment providers and law enforcement agencies to protect Florida's youth from alcohol abuse. The multi-agency collaboration represents unified leadership in promoting model programs and initiatives that are aggressively aimed at curtailing and progressively eliminating alcohol use by underage youth.
Florida is making efforts in grade schools and colleges to lower youth alcohol use. Coalitions and partnerships on the local level have had a major influence in prevention efforts. The Office of Drug Control funds a statewide media campaign that encourages neighborhoods, communities, and campuses to develop programs that offer a consistent and non-conflicted message that underage drinking is unhealthy, risky and outside of acceptable standards of behavior.
Department of Children and Families (DCF) Funded Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
This directory (4,821 KB) is intended to be used as a first-stop guide for anyone responsible for placing substance abusing children into treatment, whether that be outpatient or residential. This directory emphasizes evidence-based treatment, aftercare, parental involvement in treatment, and screening and assessment. In addition, since DCF is the largest state provider of these services, the directory serves as a baseline study for the condition of state funded adolescent treatment programs in Florida.
Alcohol Abuse Prevention Coalitions
A primary focus of Florida's Initiative to Lower Youth Drinking is to empower communities to make efforts to reduce underage alcohol use. For this reason, the Office utilizes Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) and a portion of Drug-Free Communities funding (Drug-Free Communities Alcohol Initiative) to support selected alcohol abuse prevention community coalitions. The funded counties were selected based on their high rate of underage alcohol abuse as evidenced by the 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey. Each coalition is charged with collaborating with local law enforcement, community leaders, and educators to reduce underage drinking sales, marketing, and use within the county.
Florida Prevention System
The Florida Prevention System is a comprehensive approach for directing policy, establishing a solid resource base, sustaining collaborative partnerships, and developing a system for utilizing and evaluating a science-based approach to prevention throughout the state of Florida.
Florida Prevention Framework (FPF)
The Florida Prevention Framework (FPF) is a planning process Florida uses to ensure that its prevention decisions are data driven, research based and community focused.
The tool builds on existing infrastructure to develop integrated state and community-level strategic prevention plans. The state supports both levels with assistance in epidemiology, community readiness, resource assessment, strategic planning and organizational development, resources for evidence-based strategies, and a web-based performance data system that assists with outcome evaluation.
Florida Community Anti-Drug Coalitions
Florida Community Anti-Drug Coalitions are local groups of individuals dedicated to reducing substance abuse in their community.
Women Under the Influence Initiative
The Women Under the Influence Initiative (708 KB) began after Joseph A. Califano, Jr., President of Columbia University’s National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, introduced the book Women Under the Influence which was the “…result of more than a decade of research… and represents the most penetrating and comprehensive examination ever undertaken of substance abuse among American women of all ages.
The Gender-Specific Substance Abuse Workgroup was created to examine comprehensive services provided to women in Florida. This group meets quarterly, has created a blueprint for other states to follow, and is in the process of implementing recommendation for Florida on how to improve services for women under the influence.
One of the recommendations was to educate the public on research relating to women and substance use. The workgroup created a brochure for each age group and disseminated these statewide. Please contact the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association at (850) 878-2196 if you would like to receive printed brochures.
Overcoming Substance Abuse
For Older Women 847KB
For Girls and Women 696KB
For Girls Ages 4-18 949KB
Prevention Links
This section details some of the more popular substance abuse prevention links. Each link provides valuable information and resources. The links are broken down into three categories: General Prevention; Alcohol Abuse Prevention; and Suicide Prevention.
General Prevention
Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) - FADAA advances addiction treatment, prevention and research through public policy leadership, communications, professional development and quality member services.
Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) - (Substance Abuse Program Office) - Dedicated to the development of a comprehensive system of prevention, emergency/detoxification, and treatment services for individuals and families at risk of or affected by substance abuse; to promote their safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency.
Prevention in Florida - Information on violence and substance abuse prevention.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - SAMHSA’s mission is to build resilience and facilitate recovery for people with or at risk for substance abuse and mental illness.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) - NIDA’s mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) - CADCA’s mission is to build and strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create safe, healthy and drug-free communities.
Alcohol Abuse Prevention
Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) - to ensure that professions and businesses provide quality services for the health, safety and welfare of citizens and visitors in the great state of Florida.
Florida Division of Alcoholic, Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) - The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is responsible for licensing the alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries, for collection and auditing of taxes and fees paid by the licensees, and for enforcing the laws and regulations of the alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries.
The FACE Project - A national nonprofit focused on resources, training and action on alcohol issues.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) - The state's nationally accredited highway law enforcement agency responsible for keeping impaired drivers off our major roads.