Together, we can prevent substance misuse.
It is vital to reduce the impact of substance misuse and enhance the behavioral health of all individuals, families, and communities. To do so, EDC uses proven, comprehensive approaches that respond to the complex causes of behavioral health issues including systemic racism, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and stress.
For decades, we have led initiatives that prepare the behavioral health workforce to provide innovative and effective substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services anchored in culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. Our award-winning consultation services, trainings, and tools are propelling improvements in the quality and equity of programs, practice, and policies across the U.S. and worldwide.
In partnership with practitioners, community leaders, and people with lived experience, we address urgent and emergent behavioral health challenges across the lifespan. Today, these include challenges—such as problem gambling and digital wellness—that can co-occur with substance misuse and mental health issues. All of our work draws on our staff’s expertise in cultural responsiveness, the use of data to drive change, continuous improvement, and prevention and implementation science.
Related Content
Substance Misuse and Equity: Are We Asking the Right Questions?
Effective prevention starts with asking questions. But which questions we ask, and how we ask them, often reflect biases that we don’t know we have…
EDC Talks: Vendors Can Prevent Marijuana Use
Marijuana is being legalized in states across the country. How can we stop young people from misusing it? Gisela Rots explains.
Behavioral Health: 4 Ways to Build Programs That Work
Proactive health and wellness programs lay the foundation for healthy, stronger communities. Four EDC experts weigh in.
Preventing Problem Gambling in Massachusetts
Who is most at risk for problem gambling, and how can communities and casinos work together on prevention? Rebecca Bishop shares insights.
EDC Tapped to Help Combat Substance Misuse in Indianapolis Schools
Taking a comprehensive approach early in school has the potential to prevent substance use in later grades and beyond, says Chuck Klevgaard.
Want to Improve Public Health? Address Systemic Racism
Policy changes are key to addressing racial disparities in public health, including substance misuse. Learn more in this roundtable discussion.
Why Should We Engage Faith Leaders in Prevention?
Faith-based organizations have a powerful role to play in substance misuse prevention, says Ben Spooner.
Empowering Kentucky’s Substance Misuse Prevention Workforce
How can we help communities understand the pillars of effective prevention? Explore stories about the work of Prevention Solutions@EDC.
EDC Talks: How to Address Problem Gambling?
For some people, gambling can create a dependence that affects their health, wellness, and relationships, says Rebecca Bishop.
Projects
Resources
Here are a few of our resources on substance abuse prevention. To see more, visit our Resources section.
This guide includes information gathered from existing research and practice literature on environmental strategies that aim to reduce non-medical use of prescription drugs. For each strategy, the guide includes information on: the populations for which the original strategy was designed, evaluation outcomes that provide evidence of effectiveness, and additional resources (e.g., links to additional guidelines) for readers.
This report presents highlights and findings from EDC’s administration of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey to 24,355 high school students in 26 Massachusetts communities in 2014.
This worksheet is designed to help you develop a brief inventory of your partners and how you work with them.
This online tool provides guidance for applying the Strategic Prevention Framework process to the prevention of alcohol misuse and abuse.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is one of the most pervasive and devastating consequences of the opioid crisis, affecting six newborns per 1,000 hospital births. This webinar will explore the current evidence for what drives this problem and what works to prevent it.
This resource library contains reports, analyses, surveys, and fact sheets developed as part of EDC’s administration of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey from 2006 to 2014.
This tool presents a four-step model that state epidemiological workgroup chairs—or others responsible for creating or rebuilding such groups—can use to strengthen or revitalize their epidemiologic
This guide is intended to bridge the gap between reducing and preventing drug use among college students.