It is vital to reduce the impact of substance misuse and enhance the behavioral health of all individuals, families, and communities. To do so, EDC uses proven, comprehensive approaches that respond to the complex causes of behavioral health issues including systemic racism, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and stress.

For decades, we have led initiatives that prepare the behavioral health workforce to provide innovative and effective substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services anchored in culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. Our award-winning consultation services, trainings, and tools are propelling improvements in the quality and equity of programs, practice, and policies across the U.S. and worldwide.

In partnership with practitioners, community leaders, and people with lived experience, we address urgent and emergent behavioral health challenges across the lifespan. Today, these include challenges—such as problem gambling and digital wellness—that can co-occur with substance misuse and mental health issues. All of our work draws on our staff’s expertise in cultural responsiveness, the use of data to drive change, continuous improvement, and prevention and implementation science.

Related Content

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EDC Tapped to Help Combat Substance Misuse in Indianapolis Schools
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Want to Improve Public Health? Address Systemic Racism
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Why Should We Engage Faith Leaders in Prevention?
Faith-based organizations have a powerful role to play in substance misuse prevention, says Ben Spooner.

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Resources

Here are a few of our resources on substance abuse prevention. To see more, visit our Resources section.

Fact sheets

This online fact sheet describes consultation that EDC experts provided to advance Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) staff’s efforts to prepare communities to reduce substance

Fact sheets
To support Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS)-funded grantees, BSAS in collaboration with the Center for Strategic Prevention Support (CSPS) convened a 4-part panel discussion on Equity in Everyday Practice between August-November 2021. This document captures the lessons learned from the series.
Toolkits

This guide is intended to bridge the gap between reducing and preventing drug use among college students.

Resource libraries

This website offers a range of print and online resources developed by EDC to prevent substance misuse and related behavioral health problems.

Toolkits

This worksheet is designed to help you develop a brief inventory of your partners and how you work with them.

Toolkits

This online tool provides guidance for applying the Strategic Prevention Framework process to the prevention of alcohol misuse and abuse.

Reports

This report describes three post-overdose interventions that have shown promise in reducing the risk of subsequent overdoses and improving other health outcomes among people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose, highlighting the role of prevention practitioners in supporting these efforts.

Reports

This resource offers a brief introduction to prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), highlighting how practitioners can use PDMP data to prevent prescription drug misuse in their states and communities.

Resource libraries

The CSPS resource library provides access to a wealth of information to support substance misuse prevention efforts.

Reports

The Center for Strategic Prevention Support (CSPS) developed this guidance document to assist efforts in preventing and reducing underage drinking and other drug use in Massachusetts.