School-Based Health Clinics: Critical Access Points For Confronting The Addiction Epidemic

It is undoubtedly a critical time in this country to address the complexities of how to effectively prevent, treat, and help people recover from substance use disorders. As many parts of the country struggle to reduce the impact of the current opioid epidemic and help people rebuild their lives, others are contending with the new reality of cannabis legalization and the possible implications for youth. Meanwhile, others are calling attention to rising rates of alcohol use, high-risk drinking, and alcohol use disorders, particularly among women, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. These trends are occurring against the backdrop of progress in driving down all areas of youth illicit substance misuse except marijuana. One example is underage drinking, which is at the lowest rate ever recorded in the annual national study of students that is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. (See the Monitoring the Future study for more details.) This is the time to double down on prevention investments. We know that 90 percent of people who develop a substance use disorder started with use during the adolescent years, and the earlier they start, the more likely it is that they will develop a problem. Fortunately, progress has occurred over the past thirty years in developing and implementing evidence-based prevention approaches. Early Intervention Now a new frontier in prevention is emerging, focused on developing early intervention appr...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured GrantWatch Health Professionals Organization and Delivery Access addiction alcohol abuse Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Health Care Delivery Health Philanthropy Health Promotion and Disease PreventionGW LGBTQ marijuana Ment Source Type: blogs