Public Policy, Prevention

Evidence-Based Programs Lists

In order to increase the effectiveness of prevention efforts, several federal agencies require that funded prevention programs be evidence-based. To accomplish this, SAMHSA created a National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) that provides a list of scientifically based substance abuse prevention programs. These programs were evaluated based on the strength of the evidence supporting them and were placed into one of three possible categories: promising, effective, or model. Furthermore, the NREPP considered the ability to disseminate and implement these programs as this is crucial to the actual effectiveness of these programs in the field. Current prevention programs that meet evidence criteria for substance abuse problems cover use of a range of substances that include steroids, diet pills, tobacco, and psychedelics. The Department of Education also created a similar list, identifying promising and exemplary prevention programs. These lists are crucial as many organizations, especially schools, depend on them in order to determine which prevention programs to use.

Community Prevention Programs

The substance abuse prevention efforts of SAMHSA are conducted through its Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). The CSAP grants money through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant to the individual states. The funds must be used for prevention in some combination of the six following key areas: information dissemination, community-based process, environmental strategies, alternative activities, education, and problem identification and referral. However, the PART system has found this to be ineffective, with a score of only 8 out of 100 on effectiveness.

CSAP funds or directs several other national programs. For example, CSAP funds the Programs of Regional and National Significance project, which includes the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentives Grant Program. This program helps communities assess prevention needs, improve the capability of the community to implement these prevention needs, develop strategic plans, implement the plans, and finally, evaluate the effectiveness of the plans. This program assists jurisdictions or communities in implementing evidence-based prevention programs. In addition, the Programs of Regional and National Significance project includes the Substance Abuse Prevention and HIV Prevention in Minority Communities Services Grant, which targets prevention of substance use among individuals diagnosed with HIV. CSAP also funds the Regional Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies, which consists of five centers specializing in assisting states, jurisdictions, or other communities with the latest evidence-based substance abuse resources. These centers provide training and technical support for those participating in substance abuse prevention work and monitor the results for effectiveness and accountability. When assessed as a group, the Programs of Regional and National Significance have been found to be moderately effective by the PART standards.

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