Approximately 61.2 million people aged 12 and older (that’s 22% of the population!) have used an illicit drug in 2021 (HHS, 2021). In Florida, 7.87% of 12-17 year olds have reported using a drug within the last month (NCDAS, n.d.). In South Florida, specifically, there have been significant increases in opioid overdoses and heroin-related deaths (Miami Dade County, 2019 and United Way, 2018). This shows that there is a need for prevention and education programs regarding substance use for teens in Florida.
Bright Futures: Building Success In and Out of Schools is a multilevel resilience-based intervention aimed at addressing and preventing substance use around high school students (ages 14-18) in South Florida. The focus of this intervention is to build resilience by improving communication between youths and their social networks. We will reach out by handing out print materials to schools, resource centers, and community based organizations, as well as utilizing multimedia materials for short form videos.
This intervention utilizes all four levels of the CDC Social Ecological Model:
- Individual: incentive-based programs to teach positive coping strategies and build resilience. It will also ensure individuals become aware of the resources available to them, such as treatment centers and referral services.
- Interpersonal: programs to offer tips on starting a judgment-free conversation about substance use and provides tools on how people in an individual’s social network can provide social support
- Community: interventions in schools that ensure there are adequate resources available to appropriately handle overdose or drug poisoning on campus grounds. Also ensures that students are aware of the resources available to help them during their recovery process by having teachers hold in-class discussions or have paper pamphlets available at the nurse/front office
- Societal: mandating all three levels throughout the state of Florida to ensure all counties are funded to implement these programs. Also encouraging less victim-blaming vocabulary to stop negative societal stigma associated with substance use.
References
Broward County Opiate Action Plan. (2018). United Way Broward. https://www.unitedwaybroward.o...Action-Plan-2018.pdf
Miami Dade County Opioid Affected Youth Initiative Strategic Report. (2019). Miami Dade County. https://www.miamidade.gov/ grants/library/opioid-taskforce/opioid-affected-youth-strategic-plan-report.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2023, January 4). Samhsa announces national survey on drug use and health (NSDUH) results detailing mental illness and substance use levels in 2021. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news...use-levels-2021.html
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