Prevention Services

Two programs focus on the prevention of substance abuse and violence:

• King County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program (AODPP) has staff to train and help individuals and groups interested in preventing substance use among children and youth, and contracts with community agencies to provide prevention services.

• King County Community Organizing Program (COP) has staff to work with groups to plan and deliver substance abuse and violence prevention strategies.

These programs provide large and small grants to support community prevention efforts in King County. The grants are used for prevention services including:

• Education and support for children and youth to make healthy choices

• Parenting classes to help families raise healthy, drug-free children and youth

• Youth leadership activities

• Coalition development.

How are prevention services delivered?

King County prevention services uses the risk and protective factor approach that strives to reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors in young people's lives by supporting them, their families and communities.

Goals of prevention:

• Help young people to abstain from alcohol and other drugs.

• Keep young people from engaging in violence.

• If young people use drugs and/or are involved in violence, help them to stop and make better choices.

• Work with families, communities and schools to support non-use and non-violence.

Evidence-based practices proven to be effective in preventing substance abuse and violence are used. The AODPP funds Best and Promising Practices. These practices include specific parenting curriculum and youth development strategies. The COP bases their work on the best practice model called Communities That Care, which helps communities mobilize to promote positive youth development and to prevent adolescent problem behaviors.

Why should we invest in prevention?

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It is better to prevent a problem, rather than waiting to deal with the aftermath.

Making early investments in the positive development of children and youth costs far less than failing to prevent youth substance abuse and violence. It costs more than $45,000 per year to confine a young person in the juvenile justice system. In contrast, effective prevention saves money, as well as reduces the human toll caused by substance abuse and violence. Research shows that for every $1 spent on prevention, the savings to society can range from $2 to $20, depending on the cost of the prevention service.

What is the extent of the problem related to substance use and violence?

Consider these facts:

• Use of alcohol and other drugs plays a major role in the top three causes of death and injury among teenagers and young adults: car crashes, homicides, and suicides.
• Children and youth who begin drinking and using drugs at an early age are at higher risk of developing later substance abuse problems.
• Alcohol is the most widely used drug by children and youth. Alcohol use is linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide.
• Young people who drink alcohol are more likely to be victims of violent crime. They are more likely to be involved in car crashes. They are at higher risk for having serious school problems.
• Police and schools report an increase in youth violence, and an increase in gang related violence by younger youth than previously seen.

Washington State conducts the Healthy Youth Survey every two years to collect vital information about students, their current drug use, and involvement in violent behaviors.

According to the 2006 Healthy Youth Survey, 12^th grade students in King County reported the following:

• 40.5% drank alcohol
• 20% used marijuana or hashish
• 7.1% used other illegal drugs
• 16.6% smoked cigarettes
• 12.7% were bullied
• 5.6% carried a weapon to school
• 16.4% had been physically abused by an adult.