The CPI Team develops publications to inform the prevention field of the current research, emerging trends, and best practices. The Prevention Tactics and other CPI publications are downloadable and available at no cost to you. Use the search function or browse below for a full list of CPI publications.
Showing 71 posts of 71 publications.
5 Bites: Making the Connection Between Trauma and Substance Use
In 2020, CPI hosted the Trauma-Informed Care: Research to Practice virtual conference for California’s prevention community. The “5 Bites” briefs offer five “sound bites,” or quotes, from key sessions at the event. Each sound bite is explained and unpacked for quick learning. The “5 Bites” explore these questions: What is … read more
Prevention Services within a Physically Distanced Environment
During the pandemic, CPI began hosting a biweekly County Roundtable for County Prevention Coordinators to discuss challenges and share best practices in the physically distanced environment. This briefing compiles the learnings that the County Prevention Coordinators shared in the first several months of the pandemic, as well as strategies and … read more
Social Media Tip Sheet
Social media is all about connecting with people, especially in unprecedented times such as the pandemic and recovery. For the prevention field, it is a useful way for organizations to connect with the communities they serve. However, the pivot from in-person prevention to virtual prevention by way of social media … read more
5 Bites: Trauma-Informed Care – An Essential Tool for Engaging Youth
In 2020, CPI hosted the Trauma-Informed Care: Research to Practice virtual conference for California’s prevention community. The “5 Bites” briefs offer five “sound bites,” or quotes, from key sessions at the event. Each sound bite is explained and unpacked for quick learning. The “5 Bites” explore these questions: What is … read more
5 Bites: Individual and Collective Trauma
In 2020, CPI hosted the Trauma-Informed Care: Research to Practice virtual conference for California’s prevention community. The “5 Bites” briefs offer five “sound bites,” or quotes, from key sessions at the event. Each sound bite is explained and unpacked for quick learning. The “5 Bites” explore these questions: What is … read more
Trauma-Informed Prevention in Practice Series: Marin County
What does a trauma-informed approach look like for county behavioral health? This is the first in a series of case studies showcasing California counties that adopted a trauma-informed approach in their policy and practice. Don Carney discusses the transition to a trauma-informed youth court in Marin County. “Young people are … read more
Trauma-Informed Prevention in Practice Series: Merced County
What does a trauma-informed approach look like for county behavioral health? This is the first in a series of case studies showcasing California counties that adopted a trauma-informed approach in their policy and practice. Christopher Jensen describes the paradigm shift that took place when Merced County centered their prevention planning … read more
The Role of Prevention in a Trauma-Informed Approach to Wellness
Vol. 9, Iss. 14This Prevention Tactic describes the impact of trauma on individuals and communities; defines the key components of a trauma-informed approach, and how they differ from current prevention efforts; and provides examples from cities that are using a trauma-informed approach to whole community wellness.
Cannabis Brochure – Parent Update
In response to popular demand from the field, CPI developed a new brochure that counties can customize and distribute as part of their cannabis use prevention activities. County Version 1 (original): includes placeholders for adding county-level data and resources County Version 2: includes fillable form fields for adding county-level data … read more
Social Determinants of Health: A Common Language for Collaborating Across Sectors
Vol. 9, Iss. 13This tactic will help prevention professionals employ the language of social determinants of health (SDH) as a means of grounding substance use disorder prevention work in the broader cross-systems prevention dialogue. This tactic defines SDH and explains how this terminology ties into language currently used in prevention. Finally, it outlines … read more
Preventing Substance Abuse in Military Members and Their Families
Vol. 9, Iss. 14The focus of this Tactic is to examine the challenges that military members and their families experience that may result in an increased risk for substance abuse. The Tactic will also highlight best practices, prevention programs, and resources that specialize in serving military members and their families.
Sustaining Prevention: Eight Capacity Building Factors for Success
Vol. 9, Iss. 13The goal of this Prevention Tactic is to demonstrate how prevention stakeholders can utilize eight capacity building factors to continue and expand prevention efforts regardless of the entity’s size, bureaucracy or the changing environment. To demonstrate how capacity building can enhance the likelihood of sustaining prevention efforts, this Tactic examines … read more
Culturally Responsive Environmental Prevention
Vol. 9, Iss. 12The goal of this Tactic is to assist professional prevention providers, grassroots citizen groups, prevention coalitions, and others who aim to change substance use and abuse patterns on a community scale by illuminating what culturally responsive selection, implementation, and evaluation of environmental AOD prevention efforts might look like. This Tactic … read more
Digital After-School Programming as Prevention: Positive Outlets for Youth Expression in an Increasingly Hi-Tech World
Vol. 9, Iss. 11Digital after school programs can provide positive outlets for youth who face higher risks of delinquency and substance abuse. Participation in such programs generally increases youth safety, promotes development of interest and skills, reduces drop out rates, improves academic performance, and strengthens social skills. This publication provides information about how … read more
Know the Facts: Staying the Course of Data-Driven Prevention Planning
Vol. 9, Iss. 9A major accomplishment in the field of substance abuse prevention has been the professionalization of the field through the effective use of data. With such scarce resources for prevention, it’s vital that planning efforts be focused on those substances and risk/protective factors that are impacting the greatest number of youth … read more
California Substance Abuse Prevention Workforce Survey Findings, Report and Infographic
The purpose of the California Prevention Workforce survey is to provide a description of the Prevention workforce by collecting information about positions, education levels, and advancement opportunities. The goal of the survey is to assess the capacities, characteristics, and emerging trends of the professional Prevention workforce.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Vol. 9, Iss. 10The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in alignment with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is prioritizing integration and coordination of prevention services in public health, mental health, social services, juvenile justice, and education for youth and families … read more
Parents Beware: Your Child’s Greatest Danger Might Be in Your Medicine Cabinet – Prescription Drug Abuse Pamphlet, fact sheet, marketing tool kit
The Community Prevention Initiative (CPI) is now offering a customizable publication (two versions available) that empowers parents and communities to prevent teen prescription drug abuse. Outreaching to parents about the dangers of prescription drug use and the influential role they play is an important part of an overall strategy to … read more
The California Healthy Kids Survey: The Case for Continuation
Vol. 9, Iss. 8This Prevention Tactic discusses how this decline in the CHKS participation stymies prevention efforts throughout California. It also provides strategies that stakeholders can pursue to ensure that they have the fiscal, administrative, and community support needed to continue the administration of the CHKS.
Community Prevention: New Opportunities to Create Impact through Collaboration
This publication in the Power of Prevention Series takes a closer look at Community Prevention and how substance abuse prevention, which has a long history of working closely with the community, can use these relationships and experiences to further their goals, especially with more broadly focused community prevention efforts.
Effective Substance Abuse Prevention
This paper arms prevention planners and practitioners with clear information to help make prevention a priority. It attempts to take the pulse of prevention by looking at effective strategies within the substance abuse prevention field, providing tips on selecting the most effective interventions, and discussing the future of substance abuse … read more
Restaurants that “Morph” into Bars and Nightclubs in California Communities: What’s the Problem and What Can Be Done About It?
This Policy Brief provides historical background describing how morphing restaurants have emerged over several decades to become a growing problem; reviews what the California ABC can and cannot do to help local jurisdictions address problems with morphing; and describes steps that local jurisdictions are using to make use of their … read more
New Approaches to Prevention: Aligning Interventions between Substance Abuse and Mental Health
In an effort to illuminate the research-to-practice application, this Power of Prevention document focuses on how substance abuse prevention efforts can more strongly align with the institutions and organizations that concern themselves with mental health.m
The Crossover between Substance Abuse Prevention and Schools
There is significant cross-over with the school climate model and current efforts to prevent, reduce and mitigate harm related to substance use during adolescence. Programs and interventions that address drug and alcohol use approach the issue in ways that promote safety, engage students, improve school connectedness, and foster healthy development … read more
Healthcare Reform: The Role for Substance Abuse Prevention
Federal health reform, with its emphasis on disease prevention and wellness, offers new opportunities to prioritize substance abuse prevention efforts within clinical practices. More importantly, health reform stands to expand substance abuse prevention’s influence and knowledge into the broader dialogue of prevention.
Substance Abuse Prevention: Benefits Outweigh Costs – Spreading the Message Where It Counts
Vol. 9, Iss. 7Many social science fields embrace taking the long view when addressing problems, seeing prevention as the cornerstone of effective problem solving. This publication focuses on the cost/ benefits of substance abuse prevention and how to support these essential efforts in our governments, schools, and communities.
Survey Data Sources for AOD Prevention-A Review and Summary
This publication focuses on the use of archival survey data and features 12 surveys commonly used by the substance abuse prevention field. A sequence of matrices are provided.
The Power of Substance Abuse Prevention: Why Invest in Prevention
Given today’s economic conditions, it is critical to measure the worth of programs, services, and policies that stand to reduce the costly effects of substance abuse. The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the cost-effective and valuable role that substance abuse prevention plays in mitigating the … read more
The Ups and Downs of Comparing Teen Substance Abuse Data
This paper looks at one focus of prevention efforts, teen substance abuse, and shows how surveys might seem to highlight one issue while downplaying another. Much as the buyer should beware in consumer spending, the prevention provider should be wary of survey highlights. As much as possible, it is best … read more
SPF: Tip Sheet 3 – Developing Measurable Goals and Objectives
Writing clearly stated, feasible, and measurable goals and objectives provides a framework for monitoring your progress towards achieving the desired results and set clear criteria for success and/or the need for improving prevention efforts over time.
SPF: Tip Sheet 2 – Determining Prevention Priorities and Problem Statements
In order to make effective data-driven decisions, those involved in the county-wide prevention planning process need to interpret the information and determine criteria for determining prevention priorities.
SPF: Tip Sheet 1 – Conducting a Needs Assessment
As you are embarking on your data collection efforts to determine the substance abuse prevention needs for your county, all of the potential data sources may be overwhelming. It is helpful to begin to narrow your efforts to those factors specifically related to issues for specific communities or sub-populations to … read more
Tip Sheet – Digital Storytelling and Participatory Evaluation
Think teen drinking is just a “right” of passage? New research shows that alcohol affects a teenager’s developing brain differently than adults. Memory, learning and impulse control can be seriously impaired and the risk of addiction goes up significantly.
A Paradigm Shift in Selecting Evidence-Based Approaches for Substance Abuse Prevention
Vol. 9, Iss. 6This publication reviews the designation of “evidence-based” to describe prevention approaches; examines the evolution of the use of evidence-based in the National Registry of Effective Programs & Practices (NREPP); explores how the recent changes to NREPP have impacted the process that providers use to select interventions to meet the needs … read more
Performance Enhancement in the Academic World
The purpose of this publication is to assist prevention professionals in developing policy strategies to address the problems associated with high-risk and underage drinking in their communities. This paper provides an overview of policy strategies, current research on their effectiveness, and their application in the community as part of an … read more
Creating a Policy to Manage Donations
Vol. 9, Iss. 5We are again seeing a new wave of unease with industry ads displayed at local, community events such as fairs, fundraisers, and festivals, especially where children and families are in attendance. In light of these concerns, government bodies and community-based organizations are taking a second look at how they raise … read more
The Elderly and Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse
Vol. 9, Iss. 2Elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to prescription drug misuse. Prescription drug abuse is present in 12% to 15% of elderly individuals who seek medical attention. In addition to the toll on individuals and families, abuse places a heavy financial toll on health care systems.
Preventing Substance Abuse Among Youth in Foster Care
Vol. 9, Iss. 4Many youth who experience the foster care system struggle with substance use and abuse. By understanding these complex needs and underscoring the context prevention in which services are provided, substance abuse prevention providers can adapt their service models to effectively address the needs of foster youth. This Prevention Tactic addresses … read more
Moving Towards a Continuum of Services: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Screening and Referral
Vol. 9, Iss. 3This Prevention Tactic provides background about the integration of prevention screening as part of a continuum of services. It examines common definitions of AOD screening, discusses prevention screening and referral strategies, and suggests implementation and management strategies.
Youth Prescription Drug Abuse: A Growing Concern
Vol. 9, Iss. 1This Prevention Tactic focuses on the intentional abuse of prescription drugs among teens. First, the prescription medications commonly abused are identified. Secondly, the prevalence and accessibility of prescription drugs among teens is explored. Finally, effective strategies for preventing and addressing this issue in local communities are discussed.
Selecting and Implementing Evidence-Based Prevention through the Strategic Prevention Framework
Vol. 8, Iss. 15This paper aims to: 1) introduce evidence-based practice and its application to community-based interventions; 2) guide the application of criteria and procedures for selecting evidence-based policies, programs, and practices appropriate to your community-based prevention plan; and 3) outline the tactical planning steps for developing implementation work plans.
Using Data to Establish Needs: Using the SPF Planning Process
Vol. 8, Iss. 15.2This publication emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries for community-based planning processes; identifies the importance of agreeing on criteria in advance for analyzing and interpreting data to guide decision making, and suggests questions that will help to identify these criteria. It also identifies useful ways of analyzing data in order … read more
Public Convenience or Necessity? Regulating Retail Alcohol Outlets in California: Challenges and Opportunities
This guide is written for those who work in local government and for those community members seeking to engage in licensing and land use regulation of retail alcohol outlets in California.
Underage Binge Drinking
Vol. 8, Iss. 14This Tactic explores the issue of underage binge drinking—what it is, its significance, and the numerous harms afflicting youth and communities as a result of it. As a prevention specialist, it will provide you with ways to raise awareness of the need to proactively address this issue and plan strategies … read more
The IOM Model : A Tool for Prevention Planning and Implementation
Vol. 8, Iss. 13This Tactic (a) provides a brief history of the development of the IOM model and its application to prevention, and (b) outlines applications of the IOM model that will strengthen prevention planning, implementation and outcomes.
A Comprehensive Approach to Methamphetamines
Vol. 8, Iss. 12Methamphetamine can feel like a “larger than life” issue and trying to address the problem can feel even more overwhelming. That is why it is so important to approach the problem from a variety of fronts and with an arsenal of tactics. This Tactic explores multiple approaches to the problem … read more
How Communities Adopt Change
Vol. 8, Iss. 11This article is about turning ideas into action. What are the nuts and bolts that constitute change mechanisms? What are the evidence-based interventions that support the theory of change? This Tactic explores how community norms on alcohol and drug use can be purposefully changed through environmental strategies.
Responsible Beverage Service
Responsible beverage service (RBS) is an environmental prevention strategy that researchers have found to be effective in reducing hazardous alcohol use among bar and restaurant patrons. This publication outlines the minimum standards for effective RBS training and provides a framework for incorporating RBS into a comprehensive community program.
Policy Strategies to Reduce Underage and Binge Drinking
The purpose of this publication is to assist prevention professionals in developing policy strategies to address the problems associated with high-risk and underage drinking in their communities. This paper provides an overview of policy strategies, current research on their effectiveness, and their application in the community as part of an … read more
Environmental Prevention
Environmental prevention is a systems approach designed to change structures and community norms that facilitate underage and hazardous drinking. This publication provides an overview of research on environmental prevention, discusses the key elements of an environmental prevention model, and provides information on planning and additional resources to apply these strategies … read more
Media Advocacy
Media advocacy is the strategic use of media to gain public and policymaker support for policy goals. Media advocacy also contributes to community norms change. This paper describes these key concepts in media advocacy, how media advocacy fits in the framework of a systems approach, and practical media advocacy techniques.
Changing Community Norms
Vol. 8, Iss. 10This Tactic explains how community norms change, how ideas are initially championed by a small, innovative, and persistent group until slowly the idea takes hold. Slowly, the idea hits a critical mass and acceptance becomes the norm and “laggards” are the exception.
Under Construction: Adolescent Brain Development
Vol. 8, Iss. 8The more we know about the social, emotional, cultural, cognitive, and biological realities of adolescent development, the better position we will be in to understand what they are going through and help them navigate the often turbulent waters. Neuroscientific discoveries are tools that we can use in our ever-growing toolkit.
Social Norms Theory
Vol. 8, Iss. 9This Tactic focuses on the social norms approach to prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. We explore the underlying theory of social norms based prevention strategies, research that has documented common misperceptions on alcohol and drug use, a case study of a successful social norms program at a college campus, … read more
Initiating Community-Based Alcohol Prevention Interventions: Suggestions from Research and Model Programs
Vol. 8, Iss. 7The thought of launching a community-based alcohol prevention initiative can be daunting. In the early stages of planning, it may help to look at how other comprehensive prevention projects have approached their communities, and how they developed their specific intervention strategies.
Mini-Grants: A Community Approach to AOD Prevention
Vol. 8, Iss. 6One often overlooked funding source for AOD prevention is mini-grants. These are small grants made to community organizations to implement specific AOD prevention activities. This Tactic gives advice about how to find and apply for mini-grants, and offers suggestions for appropriate uses of these funds.
Social Norms: Promoting Positive Behavior as the Rule, Not the Exception
Vol. 8, Iss. 5While leaders all agree that alcohol use and abuse among youth is a significant problem, they have not agreed on a solution. One promising method that has shown successful reductions in alcohol use and abuse is the Social Norms Marketing approach. This Tactic provides information on how to develop, market, … read more
Binge Drinking: Community Action to Reduce Binge Drinking
Vol. 8, Iss. 4An environmental prevention model includes strategic use of data, community organizing, policy and media advocacy, and enforcement to bring about long-lasting change. Data are used to identify the problem, develop strategy, plan, and monitor progress. Community organizing ensures that community stakeholders are identified and involved to gain public support and … read more
Policy Panels: Creating Effective Public Policy
Vol. 8, Iss. 3Local policy panels are powerful tools to assist California communities in addressing alcohol and other drug-related problems, such as youth access to alcohol. Policy panels also serve to mobilize new community organizations and leadership in the service of progressive prevention strategies.
Social Host Ordinances: An Approach to Prevent Underage Drinking
Vol. 8, Iss. 2Many in the prevention field agree that reducing youth access to alcohol is an essential strategy. A student survey showed that thirty percent of youth drink at home with their parents’ permission. These kinds of statistics have motivated prevention advocates to seek ways to close this loophole and establish more … read more
Community Organizing for the Next Millennium
Vol. 7, Iss. 3It used to be easy to gather community support to protest an offensive ad campaign, but how do you counteract the new marketing trend of “real life experiences”? How do you counteract traveling, alcohol-industry produced, one-time events? We need to expand our work to address the industry’s latest antics. Our … read more
Cinco de Mayo
Vol. 7, Iss. 2Cinco de Mayo celebrations have been increasingly infested with violence, crime, underage drinking, increased DUI citations and other problems caused, in part, by heavy alcohol consumption and inappropriate advertising targeted toward Latinos. The good news is that there is a lot we can do to affect the environment created by … read more
Student Athletes and Performance Enhancing Drug Use
Vol. 7, Iss. 1Today most prevention efforts regarding drug use are aimed at marijuana, alcohol, amphetamines, and ecstasy. But there is another class of drugs given less attention and gaining in popularity: performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). PEDs are being used at the professional athlete level on down and according to recent research, PED … read more
Characteristics of Effective Substance Abuse Prevention with High Risk Youth
Vol. 6, Iss. 3The findings reported here use information on the relative effectiveness of 46 study programs in preventing substance use among participating youth relative to comparison youth within each site, and presents detailed information on the prevention strategies delivered to participating youth in each site. The analyses produce statistical findings concerning those … read more
After-School Programs as Prevention
Vol. 6, Iss. 2Spending increases and new programs become established across the nation, the future of after-school programs looks bright. The key to program success will depend on the cultivation of effective service efforts that incorporate the components of quality programming while addressing identified needs.
College Presidents Forum On Underage & Binge Drinking: One Community’s Success Story
Vol. 6, Iss. 1San Diego area institutions of higher learning have joined with government agencies in an unprecedented regional effort to reduce underage and binge drinking among college students. The San Diego County “College Presidents’ Forum on Underage and Binge Drinking” has undertaken a bold new effort to reduce high-risk levels of alcohol … read more
Prevention Strategies for Adolescent Girls and Young Women
Vol. 5, Iss. 3How do the lives of girls and young women differ from those of boys and young men? What alcohol and other drug prevention strategies have been found to be especially effective with girls and young women? What kinds of prevention strategies and activities can be integrated into a particular prevention … read more
A Generation At Risk: Applying Prevention Concepts to the Elderly
Vol. 5, Iss. 1Older people are less likely to abuse substances, except perhaps prescription psychoactive medications. However, aging bodies are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and other drugs. Very few treatment programs or public health initiatives are directed at older populations, but the evidence suggests that elders benefit just as much … read more
Alcohol Propaganda: Analyzing and Countering Alcohol Industry Advertising
Vol. 5, Iss. 2Prevention activists and organizations can utilize media literacy techniques to counter industry propaganda, reframing alcohol ads to communicate the reality-based negative consequences associated with alcohol such as drunk driving, crime and violence, health problems, and abuse.
PREVENTION WORKS! The recent National Cross-Site Evaluation of High-Risk Youth Programs reveals the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of prevention
Vol. 4, Iss. 3The findings of the National Cross-Site Evaluation have important implications in prevention design and implementation. This Tactic highlights the study’s key findings to illustrate how and why prevention works, and what practitioners and policymakers can do to make prevention work better.
From Science to Practice: Using CSAP Model Programs to Prevent Youth ATOD Use
Vol. 4, Iss. 1This issue of Prevention Tactics briefly describes each of the seven model programs identified by CSAP and looks at the key factors that make these programs work. A self-assessment tool is also provided to help organizations and agencies begin using science-based programming to achieve desired outcomes.