Roundtable

Complex community systems produce substance use and related problems. Prevention can benefit from applying knowledge about their complex, dynamic, and adaptive characteristics. Recent developments in substance abuse prevention outline a general causal model to guide alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention. Research identifies key intervening variables – factors that are strongly related to and influence the occurrence and magnitude of substance use and its consequences – across ATOD, suggesting critical intervention points for change. How can such a model be applied to enhance State/community substance abuse prevention efforts? Since 2004, 42 States, Jurisdictions, and tribal organizations have received federal funding from SAMHSA/CSAP for Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants (SPF SIG). SPF SIGs, guided by a public health, outcome-based approach, are using epidemiological and other data to identify priorities and subsequently fund communities implement relevant and effective strategies to address them. The general causal model for ATOD prevention has become an important framework for SPF SIG States, Jurisdictions, and Tribal organizations to assist communities in understanding how to intervene, and can be used to explore/propose systematic innovations across ATOD. The purpose of this session is to translate scientific evidence and assist practitioners and policy makers to intervene and change substance use and associated problems. Upon outlining key components of a general ATOD causal model (ID#163087), two States will describe applications to alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and risky alcohol consumption, respectively, (New Mexico, ID#163611, and Wyoming, ID# 162142), followed by emergent applications to violence (ID#______) and methamphetamine (ID#162814).

Session Objectives: Examine a general causal model and specific components of a research-based system to guide and enhance substance abuse prevention Describe State/community and other emergent applications for designing substance abuse prevention logic models and causal pathways for intervening, and Consider realities and challenges for translating and applying research to practice innovations to enhance substance abuse prevention efforts

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing