New York State Further Expands Prevention Services Statewide

ALBANY, NY (07/20/2009)(readMedia)-- Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo announced that the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) awarded $800,000 to three additional Regional Prevention Resource Centers - totaling five Centers available to New Yorkers.

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.

"Establishing prevention resource centers statewide expands our capacity to transfer knowledge of prevention science, including evidence-based programs and practices, to individuals, families, communities, and partners in other systems in preventing alcohol, other drug abuse and problem gambling behavior, said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "A coordinated approach from the state-level to the community-level can prevent the behaviors that lead to the chronic disease of addiction."

The three additional Regional Prevention Resources include: The Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County and DePaul Addiction Services of Rochester will each receive up to $250,000 in funding to develop their region's Prevention Resource Center. The Children's Aid Society in Manhattan will receive $300,000 to develop a city wide Prevention Resource Center.

The Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in Batavia and The Prevention Network in Syracuse were awarded funding in 2008 to begin Regional Prevention Resource Centers.

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.

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 systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,550 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day.

Addiction is a chronic disease and New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can get help by calling the toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day a week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY. For more information, visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.