Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies

The Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPTs) are five regional centers funded by the federal government and are dedicated to increasing the utilization of empirically supported substance abuse prevention programs by local and state organizations. CAPTs were established in 1997 by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, which operates under the umbrella of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The development of CAPTs mirrors a wider movement within the helping professions adopt evidence-based programs and strategies in an effort to increase both the quality of care and the cost-effectiveness of services. Consistent with other areas of research, there is often a gap whereby scientifically supported substance abuse prevention programs fail to be widely adopted in applied settings. Common obstacles to the ...