Difference between revisions of "Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs"
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= Key Information = | = Key Information = | ||
Creating positive factors to help prevent drug abuse is essential to any prevention effort. These factors effect children and adults throughout every stage of their lives. Making sure to focus on these stages and the factors throughout them is something that is extremely important for prevention. Another important thing to take into account when thinking about protective factors is that they compound on each other, the development of a good relationship may lead to interest in extracurricular activities. Positive protective factors also help prevent to mental illness which in turn can help prevent SUDs. Some very effective protective factors include: self-control, parental monitoring, academic competence, anti-drug use policies, and strong neighborhood attachment. | Creating positive factors to help prevent drug abuse is essential to any prevention effort. These factors effect children and adults throughout every stage of their lives. Making sure to focus on these stages and the factors throughout them is something that is extremely important for prevention. Another important thing to take into account when thinking about protective factors is that they compound on each other, the development of a good relationship may lead to interest in extracurricular activities. Positive protective factors also help prevent to mental illness which in turn can help prevent SUDs. Some very effective protective factors include: self-control, parental monitoring, academic competence, anti-drug use policies, and strong neighborhood attachment. Note how these span a variety of socio-ecological domains -- from individual to family to school to community. Examples of risk factor in these same domains are listed below: | ||
* Individual -- Early Aggressive Behavior | * Individual -- Early Aggressive Behavior | ||
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* Community -- Poverty | * Community -- Poverty | ||
SAMHSA utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to help prevention professionals identify and focus upon addressing those factors that will have the greatest impact on target populations within specific communities. An assessment of risk and protective factors in the local community helps with planning the best interventions to implement. | SAMHSA utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to help prevention professionals identify and focus upon addressing those factors that will have the greatest impact on target populations within specific communities. An assessment of risk and protective factors in the local community helps with planning the best interventions to implement. The SAMHSA risk and protective factors guide is a resource that further defines risk and protective factors. "Risk factors are characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events. Some risk and protective factors are fixed: they don’t change over time. Other risk and protective factors are considered variable and can change over time." | ||
The SAMHSA risk and protective factors guide is a resource that further defines risk and protective factors. "Risk factors are characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events. Some risk and protective factors are fixed: they don’t change over time. Other risk and protective factors are considered variable and can change over time." | |||
* Variable risk factors include income level, peer group, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and employment status. | * Variable risk factors include income level, peer group, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and employment status. | ||
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* Individual-level protective factors include positive self-image, self-control, or social competence | * Individual-level protective factors include positive self-image, self-control, or social competence | ||
National Institute on Drug Abuse research has shown that the key risk periods for drug abuse are during major transitions in children’s lives. The first big transition for children is when they leave the security of the family and enter school. Later, when they advance from elementary school to middle school, they often experience new academic and social situations, such as learning to get along with a wider group of peers. It is at this stage—early adolescence—that children are likely to encounter drugs for the first time. These are key times to have awareness and look to turn to protective factors for prevention. | |||
= Relevant Research = | = Relevant Research = | ||
Revision as of 16:40, 6 July 2023
Introductory Paragraph
Many factors influence a person’s chance of developing a mental health or substance use disorder (SUD). Prevention focuses on both reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. A key part of addressing the opioid crisis (and addiction in general) is to have a multi-faceted plan to reduce the factors that lead to people intentionally misusing medications or taking drugs. Prevention efforts simultaneously work to increase the protective factors that increase the likelihood of going down alternate paths to those that lead to an SUD.
Key Information
Creating positive factors to help prevent drug abuse is essential to any prevention effort. These factors effect children and adults throughout every stage of their lives. Making sure to focus on these stages and the factors throughout them is something that is extremely important for prevention. Another important thing to take into account when thinking about protective factors is that they compound on each other, the development of a good relationship may lead to interest in extracurricular activities. Positive protective factors also help prevent to mental illness which in turn can help prevent SUDs. Some very effective protective factors include: self-control, parental monitoring, academic competence, anti-drug use policies, and strong neighborhood attachment. Note how these span a variety of socio-ecological domains -- from individual to family to school to community. Examples of risk factor in these same domains are listed below:
- Individual -- Early Aggressive Behavior
- Family -- Lack of Parental Supervision
- School -- Drug Availability
- Community -- Poverty
SAMHSA utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to help prevention professionals identify and focus upon addressing those factors that will have the greatest impact on target populations within specific communities. An assessment of risk and protective factors in the local community helps with planning the best interventions to implement. The SAMHSA risk and protective factors guide is a resource that further defines risk and protective factors. "Risk factors are characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes. Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events. Some risk and protective factors are fixed: they don’t change over time. Other risk and protective factors are considered variable and can change over time."
- Variable risk factors include income level, peer group, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and employment status.
- Individual-level risk factors include a person’s genetic predisposition to addiction or exposure to alcohol prenatally.
- Individual-level protective factors include positive self-image, self-control, or social competence
National Institute on Drug Abuse research has shown that the key risk periods for drug abuse are during major transitions in children’s lives. The first big transition for children is when they leave the security of the family and enter school. Later, when they advance from elementary school to middle school, they often experience new academic and social situations, such as learning to get along with a wider group of peers. It is at this stage—early adolescence—that children are likely to encounter drugs for the first time. These are key times to have awareness and look to turn to protective factors for prevention.
Relevant Research
Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: implications for substance abuse prevention[1]
Risk and Protective Factors for Adolescent Substance Use[2] -A Review and Summary of the Research conducted by Prevention Research Committee for Behavioral Health (2006) Behavioral Health Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (2007) SPF/SIG Epidemiological Influences Workgroup* (2010)
Impactful Federal, State, and Local Policies
SAFE Solutions is an ever-growing platform. Currently limited information is readily available for this section. SAFE Project is dedicated to providing communities with the most relevant and innovative materials. We will continue to regularly monitor and make updates accordingly with community input and subject matter expert collaboration. Please check back soon.
Available Tools and Resources
Drugabuse.gov - fact sheet on risk factors and protective factors.[3]
Protective Factors- Approaches in Child Welfare[4]
A Guide to SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (includes assessment of risk and protective factors)[5]
Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults- Evidence based resource guide[6]
Promising Practices
Communities that Care[7]
CTC guides communities through a proven five-phase change process. Using prevention science as its base, CTC promotes healthy youth development, improves youth outcomes, and reduces problem behaviors. The foundation of CTC is the "Social Development Strategy."
Results
25% less likely to have initiated delinquent behavior
32% less likely to have initiated the use of alcohol
33% less likely to have initiated cigarette use than control community youths
Search Institute[8]-Youth programs to make a difference including out of school time programs
The Ohio Opioid Education Alliance provides information regarding risk and protective factors.[9]
The State of Ohio Start Talking [10] The state of Ohio is implementing a multi-faceted approach to address the current epidemic. Efforts include promoting public and professional education, ramp up enforcement and interdiction efforts on our highways, and expand treatment options and recovery supports so those struggling with addiction can get back onto their feet and into the workforce.
Sources
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1529040/
- ↑ https://cadcaworkstation.org/public/virginia/Shared%20Resources/Community%20Assessment/Alaska%20Office%20of%20Behavioral%20Health%20Risk%20and%20Protective%20Factors.pdf
- ↑ Drugabuse.gov
- ↑ https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/protective_factors.pdf
- ↑ https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/20190620-samhsa-strategic-prevention-framework-guide.pdf
- ↑ https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/pep19-pl-guide-1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.communitiesthatcare.net/
- ↑ https://www.search-institute.org/where-to-start/youth-programs/
- ↑ https://beatthestigma.org/about-addiction-mental-health-stigmas
- ↑ https://ohio.gov/residents/resources/start-talking