New York State Builds Prevention Capacity

ALBANY, NY (07/28/2008)(readMedia)-- Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo announced that the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) will fund $500,000 for Regional Prevention Resource Centers in New York State.

The Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in Batavia and The Prevention Network in Syracuse will each receive up to $250,000 in funding to develop their region's Prevention Resource Center. The Centers will provide communities with resources to support their efforts to develop, implement and evaluate coalitions that will address alcohol, other drug and problem gambling behaviors in their communities.

"As one of the nation's largest addiction services systems, we know in New York that prevention is a key component in our comprehensive three-part strategy of prevention, treatment and recovery," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "Evidence-based prevention truly works. The establishment of prevention resource centers exemplifies our commitment to being proactive in preventing the behaviors that lead to the chronic disease of addiction."

Environmental risk factors like drug availability, poverty and lack of parental supervision can increase the likelihood of addiction. Positive relationships, strong neighborhood attachment and anti-drug use policies are preventive factors that decrease opportunities for addiction. Prevention science proves that decreasing risk factors, increasing protective factors and implementing environmental strategies brings about a change in the community attitudes and behaviors that drive alcohol and drug abuse and problem gambling behavior.

The Prevention Resource Centers will coordinate the transfer of knowledge on preventive factors and environmental risk factors associated with the respective region as well as provide necessary training and technical assistance to support local community coalitions in preventing alcoholism, drug abuse and problem gambling behavior.

"With direction and support from the State-funded resource centers, community coalitions can connect businesses, parents, media, law enforcement, schools, faith organizations, health providers, social service and government agencies, and provide them with the information they need to highlight addiction prevention as the first step toward a healthier New York," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo.

Data organized by the Regional Prevention Resource Centers will be provided to OASAS on a monthly basis with the intent of driving evidence-based prevention strategy.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services programs, with 1,550 prevention and treatment providers which serve 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

For information or assistance with an alcohol or substance abuse problem in New York State, call the addictions helpline at 1-800-522-5353 or go to the OASAS Web Site at www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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