Community Coalition Prevention Models for Substance Use Disorders

Community coalitions hold potential for preventing substance use disorders (SUD) within rural communities. By fostering collaboration between public and private organizations, coalitions can address environmental and societal risk factors of SUD and support evidence-based interventions that reduce those risks. Coalitions often focus on broad prevention efforts aligned with local needs, leveraging community resources for sustainable change.

Community coalitions also play an important role in addressing related challenges such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), mental health, and suicide prevention. Children exposed to ACEs (traumatizing events that occur before age 18, such as living with a caregiver with SUD), face an elevated risk of SUD later in life. Through targeted efforts, community coalitions can mitigate these interconnected risks by creating supportive environments, building resilience, enhancing protective factors, and integrating comprehensive mental health services alongside substance use prevention efforts.

Examples of Rural Community Coalition Prevention Programs

PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) establishes partnerships between school systems, local universities, and community-based organizations to form community teams. Community teams identify needs, select evidence-based programs, and oversee implementation and outcome evaluation. Common interventions include universal family or school-based programs tailored to the unique needs of each community. PROSPER has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing SUD rates among youth in rural areas.
Communities That Care PLUS (CTC) uses a coalition-based prevention model focused on reducing youth SUDs and related problem behaviors through community-driven strategies. The five-phase process includes: identifying key leaders and collaborators, organizing workgroups, developing a community profile, creating an action plan, and implementing and evaluating programs and policies. CTC training materials are free of charge and available online. CTC has been implemented successfully in rural areas, such as Franklin County, Massachusetts. Learn more about the benefit-to-cost ratio of the Communities That Care program.
The Rural Substance Awareness and Action Coalition (RSAAC) is made up of state, local, and community partners offering community education and prevention programs in rural Goochland and Powhatan, Virginia.
Drug-Free Communities (DFC) is a federal program jointly managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The DFC program funds community coalitions to address risk factors for youth substance use. Coalition activities include disseminating information about youth substance use risks, providing training programs for youth and other community members, promoting substance-free community events, reducing access to substances in the home, and supporting safe school environments. An evaluation found that DFC initiatives effectively reduced youth substance use rates.
The Strategic Prevention Framework - Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Program provides resources to states and communities implementing evidence-based prevention strategies. Program activities include parenting education, school-based interventions, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to enhance enforcement of substance use laws. The SPF-PFS model prioritizes cultural relevance and sustainability, making it adaptable to the specific needs of rural communities.

Considerations for Implementation

Building and maintaining a community coalition for SUD prevention in rural communities requires strategic effort. These coalitions are valuable for addressing complex challenges which may exceed the capacity of a single organization. Rural programs should begin with a comprehensive assessment of community needs, identifying risk factors, service gaps, and available resources. Involving partners and the community in this process can ensure alignment with community preferences. Many successful coalitions start with a core group of partners and later expand to include participants such as schools, healthcare providers, local governments, grassroots organizations, policymakers, and those directly affected by SUD. Securing broad support helps create a shared vision and mission that reflect community priorities and inspire collective action.

Program Clearinghouse Examples

Resources to Learn More

Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
Database
Offers a registry of evidence-based youth development programs, including those that prevent youth substance use.
Organization(s): University of Colorado Boulder, Institute of Behavioral Science

Coalition Basics
Website
Provides details and resources on effective community-based coalitions for prevention efforts.
Organization(s): Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Website
Offers resources and training for building an effective and sustainable community coalition for the prevention of substance use and misuse.
Organization(s): Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America