Course Catalog

This is the first of two introductory courses on substance abuse prevention, providing an overview of the field of prevention and some of its basic principles and concepts. This course describes the nature and scope of substance abuse as a public health problem in this country. The history of prevention is summarized by describing various approaches that have been utilized over time. Key concepts in prevention are introduced, including risk factors, protective factors, resiliency, the IOM Model, and environmental prevention.

This is the second of two introductory courses on substance abuse prevention, building on the first course which provided an overview of the field of prevention. As we turn our attention to how substance abuse prevention is put into practice, this course utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF).

Adolescence is generally viewed as a difficult time in a young person's life. This course will provide information on the challenges and issues that surround adolescents as well as the developmental challenges that are taking place. You'll get facts and figures about adolescent development and lots of information about the five major developmental challenges adolescents face. You'll also learn how this information relates to the design and implementation of youth programs.

Why is it so hard to change our behavior? This course examines the subject of behavioral change by presenting the Transtheoretical Model of change. The Transtheoretical Model is based on extensive research and combines several theories and approaches to the change process. After looking at the challenges of change and common myths about change, the learner is introduced to nine major processes related to changing behavior. These processes are applied and related to the six major stages of change. While the material in this course is relevant to behavior change in any context, connections to substance abuse are identified and discussed.

Are you aware of the many types of substances used and abused by young people today? Do you know where these substances come from and how they are used? This course will answer these questions and more, covering alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The course starts by reviewing the major categories of drugs in relation to federal classification schedules and criminal penalties. Then, individual profiles are presented for a broad range of substances. After you finish taking this course, you can come back to it as a reference source to look up information on specific drugs. Prevention workers, parents, teachers, or anyone else working with young people will benefit from the information in this course.

Recent research on human brain development is generating findings of great interest to the field of substance abuse prevention. For example, did you know that the human brain continues to develop physiologically until at least the early twenties? This course provides information on how the brain functions, how the brain develops in young people, and what the effects on the brain are for various substances. The course concludes by outlining the implications of adolescent brain information for substance abuse prevention work.

Needs assessment is a critical step in the practice of substance abuse prevention in a community. This course is a practical guide to conducting needs assessment studies specifically for substance abuse prevention. Assessment is the first of five components in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) promoted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this course, the student will learn what is involved in conducting a needs assessment, the purposes fulfilled by assessments, and how to collect and analyze data for a needs assessment study. The course presents a four-step method for conducting an assessment.

The second step in SAMHSA's five-step Strategic Prevention Framework is Capacity Building. Building capacity for prevention work in a community is critical. In this course, you will learn about the five aspects of Capacity Building: Resources, Collaboration, Information, Skills, and Institutionalization. An approach to assessing the current capacity of a community is provided, along with a "readiness continuum" to help interpret the results of your assessment. The course then suggests how to use the results of a readiness assessment to establish a strategy for Capacity Building activities.

The third step in SAMHSA's five-step Strategic Prevention Framework is Planning. The Planning step builds on what was accomplished in the Assessment and Capacity Building steps by developing a sound plan for the implementation of a community-based prevention initiative. This course focuses on the planning process, starting with the formation of an inclusive planning workgroup. After taking the necessary preparatory steps, the planning workgroup engages in a three-phase planning process: 1) Agreeing on purpose and priorities, 2) Selecting strategy, programs, and activities, and 3) Developing an action plan. This course emphasizes the importance of utilizing Assessment data in making planning decisions so that the prevention plan reflects an evidence-based approach.

When conducting an assessment in a community related to substance abuse, it is important to assess both needs and assets in the community. A useful technique on the assets side of the equation is Asset Mapping. This course explains what is involved in Asset Mapping and provides specific instructions on how to conduct an Asset Mapping project. Examples are provided of prevention initiatives that made use of Asset Mapping as a tool for identifying and mobilizing resources in a community.

Welcome to this course on the use of archival data in prevention planning! Community efforts to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse are most effective when guided by a thoughtful, data-driven plan that targets the most salient problems in the community. Prevention plans are an essential tool that answer key questions about the nature and extent of substance abuse prevention needs and inform program planners on how to best direct resources to address them. Archival data plays an important role in prevention planning. In this course, you'll learn all about the use of archival data in planning and other critical aspects of a prevention effort.

The news media has profound impact on community norms and in setting a community's political agenda. With prevention efforts, the news media is a powerful means to inform and gain public and policymaker support for policy goals. This online course provides the learner with information on how to utilize the news media to convey messages to the public, ensure that the media covers prevention stories properly, and develop strategies for media advocacy campaigns.

Did you know... studies have shown that in communities where no organized efforts were taken to reduce sales to underage persons, individuals who looked younger than age 21 were able to buy alcohol without showing ID in 45-50% of their attempts? Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) has been shown to lower the number of underage youth who are served alcohol as well as decrease the number of intoxicated patrons at bars and liquor stores. This course will provide participants with background information on RBS, the elements of effective RBS training, and the importance of RBS as part of a community's efforts to prevent alcohol-related problems.