Indicated prevention: bridging the gap, one person at a time

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Community Health Programs

Background:

• A gap was identified in substance abuse prevention and treatment services in Riverside County, California.
• Existing services did not adequately address individuals at high risk but not yet requiring treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of the Individual Prevention Services (IPS) program.
• To address the identified gap in substance abuse prevention services for at-risk individuals.

Main Methods:

• The Individual Prevention Services (IPS) program was developed in 2007.
• Services are provided one-on-one at county substance abuse treatment clinics.
• The program targets individuals with a history of substance use/misuse but not yet needing formal treatment.

Main Results:

• The IPS program has been operational for two years, offering individualized prevention.
• Services are accessible to all age groups, from adolescents to seniors.
• The program is offered at no cost to participants.

Conclusions:

• The IPS program successfully bridges the gap between prevention and treatment for substance abuse.
• The model is based on a successful local student assistance program with over 20 years of results.
• This unique, individualized approach offers a scalable solution for community-based substance abuse prevention.