An interdisciplinary team model for substance abuse prevention in communities

Recognizing the continuing threat of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse and the mandate for health care reform with emphasis on community-based care and prevention, the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Nursing developed a model to link faculty to communities to provide culturally competent, scientifically based, preventive interventions. Faculty and community associates engaged in individual and group training activities such as seminars, courses, and off-site meetings. The Preventive Intervention Research Cycle was used to structure prevention activities and assure scientific rigor. In addition to the specific outcomes of five preventive interventions, the project resulted in increased faculty scholarship in the field, increased community awareness and sustained interventions related to substance abuse, enhanced curriculum for students, and expanded collaborations with other community-based organizations. Collaborative interdisciplinary partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations are critical to the development of the science of substance abuse prevention.