Alcohol Awareness Month is a great opportunity to learn about alcohol, alcohol use disorder, and the impact on health and society. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 140,000 people in the United States die each year from alcohol misuse, making it one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. Alcohol misuse is linked to more than 200 diseases and injury-related conditions, meaning alcohol misuse contributes substantially to health care costs and lost productivity and affects people's health in ways that they may not realize. Alcohol misuse can also have painful emotional impacts on individuals and their loved ones.
The Opioid Misuse Prevention Project at Family Services of NW PA
The Opioid Misuse Prevention Project (OMPP) at Family Services of NW PA aims to address the opioid crisis by reducing the risk factors that lead to substance misuse while increasing the protective factors that promote resilience in youth, families, and communities. The Opioid Misuse Prevention Project includes four components:
LifeSkills Training Program: LifeSkills Training (LST) is a multi-component substance abuse prevention curriculum addressing social, psychological, cognitive, and attitudinal factors associated with the use of various legal and illegal substances. As part of the Opioid Misuse Prevention Project, all middle school health teachers in Erie's Public Schools will be trained to deliver the LifeSkills curriculum to all middle school students.
Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14: The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) consists of seven sessions over seven consecutive weeks. As part of the Opioid Misuse Prevention Project, the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 will be offered to all students ages 10-14 in Erie's Public Schools and their parents, guardians and/or caregivers.
Communities That Care: This Social Development Strategy is an evidence-based framework that organizes protective factors into a simple strategy for action to promote positive youth development. As part of the Opioid Misuse Prevention Project, Social Development Strategy trainings will be available to professionals/individuals that have regular contact with children. Trainings are two hours long and participation is free.
Public Health Messaging Campaign: The final component of the Opioid Misuse Prevention Project is a public health messaging campaign that aims to build awareness of the risks that alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana pose to youth; promote the use of drop boxes for disposing of old medications; and decrease stigma around substance use disorder and treatment.
To learn more about the Opioid Misuse Prevention Project at Family Services of NW PA, visit www.FSNWPA.org/OMPP.
Funds for the Opioid Misuse Prevention Program at Family Services of NW PA were awarded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The awarded funds were provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and originate with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Additional Resources
- PAStart.org– Provides awareness, education, and strategies to prevent substance misuse in adolescents and teens.
- PAStop.org – Provides families, individuals, and prevention professionals across Pennsylvania with consistent, high-level messaging tools, media resources, and materials to assist in education and prevention efforts.
- Commonwealth Prevention Alliance – Supports prevention professionals in eliminating substance abuse.
