The document discusses the high costs of substance abuse to both individuals and society. It estimates that substance abuse costs Washington State over $2 billion per year in health care, social services, and criminal justice system expenses. Prevention programs have been shown to save $10 for every $1 invested by reducing these costs. The goal of the Snohomish County AOD Prevention Unit is to implement evidence-based prevention programs in communities and through partnerships to build resilience, strengthen families, and reduce the social and economic impacts of addiction.

1. 4948555744220Snohomish County AOD: Prevention Unit<br />Alcohol and other drug abuse is the root cause of many of the serious problems facing our communities today and is very conservatively estimated to cost Washington State more than $2 billion dollars each year. <br />It is a problem that strains our health care, social services, educational and justice systems, and one that takes an immeasurable emotional and financial toll on families.<br />The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse* estimates that our country spends nearly half a trillion dollars annually on the burden of substance abuse and addiction. If we break it down to relatable numbers, for every dollar spent responding to substance abuse:<br />96.3 cents goes to shoulder the burden of our failure to prevent and treat substance abuse and addiction (this includes spending in health, child/family/housing assistance, public safety, justice, elementary/secondary education, mental health, developmental disabilities and workforce costs)<br />1.5 cents goes to treatment<br />1.3 cents goes to taxation and regulation of alcohol and tobacco, as well as the operation of state run liquor stores<br />1.1 cents goes to research and interdiction<br />0.4 cents goes to prevention<br />In 2005 dollars (the most recent data available), the per capita cost of this burden – the cost to each man, woman and child – in Washington State was about $430. When you consider that shouldering the burden of substance abuse results in no returns to society, compared to a $10 minimum return for each $1 invested in prevention (Iowa State University, 2009) – our priorities seem amazingly out of touch.<br />641350087630<br />The goal of the Prevention Unit is to increase Snohomish County’s capacity to address substance abuse prevention in an equitable and comprehensive way. We use approaches that are scientifically proven to be effective in reducing community risks and increasing protection for families and communities. <br />By using County and community data to inform our efforts, we are dedicated to putting strategies and programs into action that build resiliency in youth, strengthen families and communities, and avoid the social and economic costs of addiction and violence.<br />The Prevention Unit accomplishes this in two ways:<br />Community-Based Coordination, which includes the development and coordination of community anti-drug coalitions, the dissemination of anti-drug messaging, and coordination of a countywide prevention system of community partners to assess local needs, establish priorities, develop and evaluate prevention programming. <br />Contract Management, which includes contracting federal funds to local agencies, schools, community coalitions, youth groups, etc. to implement and evaluate research-based prevention programs. This management often includes reviewing applications, allocating funds, developing contracts, providing technical assistance, monitoring contract compliance and coordinating with the Department of Social and Health Services.<br />Our programs have delivered services to more than 2,000 diverse people across the span of life during the last fiscal biennium (2009-2011).<br />The future of prevention in Snohomish County will see a geographic focus on service delivery in two high risk communities: Darrington and North Everett. We are currently planning for a third community that will be decided at a later date.<br />*National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Shoveling Up II: The Impact of Substance Abuse on Federal, State and Local Budgets, May 2009 (available online)<br />County Prevention Programs 2009-2011 (All Funding Sources)ProgramAddressesThroughForParenting WiselyPoor Family Management SkillsParenting ClassParents, Grandparents and Guardians of young children and teensParenting In RecoveryPoor Family Management SkillsParenting ClassParents separated from their children by the StateStaying Connected with Your TeenPoor Family Management SkillsParenting ClassParents of TeensStrengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and CommunitiesPoor Family Management SkillsParenting ClassLatino Parents of young children and teensCasino Road TutoringAcademic FailureTutoringElementary and Middle School students along Casino RoadKITE (Kids in Training to Excel)Academic FailureTutoringElementary and Middle School students at Whispering Pines Apartment Complex in Lynnwood GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered)Community BondingSupport GroupGLBTQ youth across Snohomish CountySay It StraightCommunity BondingEmpowermentGLBTQ youth across Snohomish CountyYouth Empowerment ProjectCommunity BondingYouth Prevention CoalitionTeensCommunities That CareCommunity DisorganizationAdult Prevention CoalitionAdultsLife Skills TrainingFriends Who Engage in the Problem BehaviorRefusal and Resistance SkillsElementary and Middle School Student in Granite FallsChildren’s Transition InitiativeLow Commitment to SchoolMentoringHigh risk 9-13 year olds in DarringtonBig Brothers Big SistersEarly and Persistent Antisocial BehaviorMentoringHigh Risk 6-15 year olds, determined by ACE score Sky Valley TreasuresCommunity BondingSocial Development StrategyTeens in East Snohomish CountyKids’ Futures: Voices of YouthCommunity BondingYouth ForumTeensI’m So Glad You AskedBondingSkill BuildingChildren ages 3-9 with parents in treatmentJoin the 7/Just One Choice…AwarenessSocial-norms MarketingTeens and their parentsEdmonds School Prevention and Intervention NetworkSchool EngagementCase ManagementHigh risk students and families in Edmonds School District Middle and High SchoolsCocoon House WayOUT ProgramJuvenile Justice RecidivismEducational SeminarTeens and families referred by Juvenile Court and Project SAFECocoon House Youth Services NetworkHomelessness ReductionOutreach and Advocacy Teens who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless<br />