Preventing substance abuse early goes a long way in reducing addiction in the future. Drug and alcohol use, especially in young people, may disrupt brain development, leading to ongoing substance use disorders and mental health issues. Community prevention programs and training have proven to be highly successful in combating substance abuse and reducing addiction.
Pathways' Community Prevention Educators aims to diminish substance abuse and overdose across the lifespan through awareness, prevention and collaboration by sharing of information, resources and opportunities that support the vision of safe, healthy, and drug-free communities
Pathways Behavioral Services' Community Prevention Educators partner with several coalitions in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw and Grundy counties. To address substance abuse, addiction and even problems with gambling, these community coalitions offer numerous prevention measures including:
- Increasing community awareness of substance abuse issues
- Working to encourage positive substance use/abuse policy changes, both locally and statewide
- Promoting positive activities for youth development and volunteerism
- Reducing youth access to addictive substances such as tobacco/nicotine and alcohol
