Tools and resources for adapting evidence-based substance abuse and HIV prevention interventions for culturally diverse populations

Issues: The syndemic of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS continues to disparately impact racial and ethnic minority communities in the United States. According to Healthy People 2020, substance abuse is a leading indicator of our nation's health with estimated costs of $375 billion for alcohol and drug abuse. Meanwhile, the economic burden of HIV is approximately $36.4 billion, and is even higher for racial and ethnic minorities. As such, eliminating health disparities, one of the overarching goals of Healthy People 2020, is imperative for improving community health and achieving health equity. Description: In working towards the goal of health disparities elimination, it is necessary for substance abuse and HIV prevention interventions to be culturally relevant and meet the needs of the communities in which the interventions are intended to reach. This suggests the need for evidence-based prevention interventions (EBPI) that not only deliver the best science, but are culturally informed and responsive to the practical concerns of the local community. This presentation will describe the national landscape for the use of EBPI in community health promotion, provide an overview of the key concepts and terms used in cultural adaptation of EBPI, and identify available resources to aid adapters. Lessons Learned: In response to the need for cultural adaptation of EBPI, a variety of guidelines and frameworks have emerged to assist program planners and implementers in using a systematic approach to adaptation. Recommendations: Cultural adaptation of EBPI is a vital and necessary part of effective prevention programming for culturally diverse communities.