Prevention works. Have you ever sat back and thought about the issues that arise in our communities because of the beliefs we hold? The following analogy holds true: Say an accident occurs at the same intersection of your town every month. Drivers are confused by the lack of stop signs and the poorly lit area of the intersection. The intersection has not changed in over 25 years. We, as a community, can do one of two things. We can stand back and say people are bad drivers or we can try to prevent reoccurring accidents. The question is, how do you prevent an accident from occurring? Simply, you create an environment that minimizes the chance it will happen by making the intersection a four-way stop or by adding street lights.
This is prevention. Prevention is stopping something from happening or arising. This analogy is true when talking about alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Every community is impacted by substance use and abuse. In order to decrease the negative consequences of alcohol and other drugs, we need to look at our own beliefs and then create a place that is safe for everyone to live. For example, if our community has high rates of underage drinking we can look at creating a youth center for people to attend. This provides a safe location for youth to go that is free from the temptations of using substances. We can also look at how and where alcohol is sold. Working with your local event organizers to discuss the selling and serving of alcohol can prove to be beneficial. Little changes in the ways we think and working together to reach a common goal will lead to healthy and productive communities.
We are here to help. If you would like to schedule a free substance abuse prevention presentation or would like to hear more about the prevention efforts in your local area contact Katie Bee, CPS at 515-471-2327 or via email at kbee@efr.org
Employee & Family Resources is a nonprofit agency that is dedicated to helping people manage life's challenges so they can reach their full potential. For more information about Employee & Family Resources visit www.efr.org.