Targeted Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts Underway

In October 2004, the Michigan Department of Community Health Office of Drug Control Policy received a Strategic Prevention Framework -State Incentive Grant (SPF/SIG) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP). Since this time, a statewide review of data has been conducted, and CSAP has subsequently approved Michigan’s identified priority problem of Alcohol-Related Traffic Crash Deaths.

Representing this region, the Livingston/Washtenaw Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency has been charged with participating in the SPF/SIG process. Jane Goerge, SPF/SIG Project Coordinator states that, “This outcome-based, community-wide, population-level approach will be used to improve the structure for targeting substance abuse prevention programming.”

A first task for the Livingston/Washtenaw Coordinating Agency was to organize a Community Epidemiological Workgroup (CEW) to conduct a local needs assessment. Adreanne Waller, SPF/SIG Epidemiologist led the effort to provide and review substance abuse related data in the two counties. Based on this review, the group identified the targeted geographic area of Dexter/Pinckney. The CEW further identified retail and social access as the priority intervention target.

Next steps include organizing a Community Strategic Prevention Planning Collaborative to develop a strategic plan that targets the identified priorities.

For more information, you may contact Jane Goerge at 544-3085 or Marci Scalera, Director - Livingston/Washtenaw Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency at 544-2916.