Services

Community Drug Prevention | Substance Abuse Prevention at Home | Workplace Drug Prevention | Survey

Community Drug Prevention

Before community substance abuse prevention can take place, a community must first be aware of the possibility of a substance abuse problem.

• Is there awareness of a drug or alcohol abuse problem in your community?
• Has the problem been acknowledged, or are community members in a state of denial?

Once community members are aware of and acknowledge a potential substance abuse problem, the next logical question is, “what can we do about it?”

The Center for Prevention Services is your portal of entry when you realize that your community may be facing a drug or alcohol problem but you’re not quite sure of the appropriate next steps. We work with parents, educators and community leaders to help implement research-based prevention programs that meet the specific needs of your community.ß

Drug Information Line
The Center for Prevention Services offers a confidential phone service that provides prevention information and referrals.
Lines are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
704.375.DRUG

Youth Drug Survey
Since 1972, The Center for Prevention Services has conducted a countrywide Youth Drug Survey every two to three years that has helped to identify the extent of substance abuse problems among youth throughout the community. During November/December 2010, The Center for Prevention Services, in collaboration with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition, administered the self-report Youth Drug Survey to 4,273 youth ages 12-18.

2010 YDS Executive Summary (pdf)
2010 CLT-YDS Report (pdf)

Speakers Bureau - Let’s talk about it.
A large part of the work The Center for Prevention Services does is disseminating accurate, up-to-date information to communities on substance abuse and strategies for prevention.

Upon your request, we will customize a communication session that is age appropriate and relevant to the audience in attendance, whether youth, adults, or professionals. The Speakers Bureau will provide information related to substance abuse including signs and symptoms, types of addictions, stats specific to Mecklenburg County, and community organizing initiatives designed to promote prevention and wellness programs .

The Speakers Bureau; however, is not all talk. It’s also about action. Specifically the action that needs to take place in preventing substance abuse, including self-esteem building, communication skills, stress management, conflict resolution, and more.

Please contact JaLisa Wiggins for more information.

Professional Support Services - Older Adult Services (for Caregivers)
Substance abuse knows no age, that’s why at The Center for Prevention Services we offer programs and services that assist the full range of ages from youth to elders. Our Older Adult Services for Caregivers is a program designed for elder care professionals that offers professional development training on alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention in the older adult population.
Caregivers and Industry Professionals gain knowledge on:

• The relationship between chemical dependency and the aging process
• Signs and symptoms of substance abuse in older adults
• Misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs
• Intervention techniques for the substance abuser
• Prevention and treatment of substance abuse

Sessions are typically presented at residential sites, healthcare facilities, Health and Human Services agencies, and corporations.

Please contact LaKeisha McCormick for more information.

Post Secondary Education Prevention Services
When you think of the “party school” atmosphere that is often related to the college experience, drug and alcohol use invariably play a role in the image that you might picture. At The Center for Prevention Services, we believe this image is one that doesn’t have to take form.

Our Post Secondary Education Prevention Services target students, faculty, staff and administration on campuses in our service area. With a goal to prevent and/or reduce substance use and abuse among students, we deliver targeted programs to specific groups including athletes, resident life advisors, campus police, counselors, and student health services, covering everything from school substance abuse policy and practices to grant development and implementation.

Please contact LaKeisha McCormick for more information.

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Substance Abuse Prevention at Home

Parent/Family Education
From the very moment we become parents our instinct is to protect our children – to shield them from all apparent harm. At The Center for Prevention Services, we look at substance abuse as if it were any other danger that might enter a child’s life. We believe that by encouraging in-home early education, teaching prevention skills, and initiating family-lead preventative intervention when necessary, families can decrease the likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse and subsequent addictions.

Our Parent/Family Education programs are designed for parents, other adult family members, care providers, teens and young adults. Your family as a whole will benefit from:

• Practical, age-appropriate family-oriented substance abuse prevention educational resources
• Stress management skills designed for families

Please contact LaKeisha McCormick for more information.

Older Adult Services
Growing older has its own inherent hurdles, but add to it substance abuse and/or addictive behaviors and you’re dealing with a whole other battle. As the population grows older, addressing the possibility of substance abuse or substance misuse among the older population is an issue that individuals and families must face.

The Center for Prevention Service offers substance abuse and misuse prevention information and awareness programs for older adults. Participants in the program gain a better understanding of:

• Using prescription and/or over-the-counter substance wisely
• How to have productive doctor visits
• Stress management
• Using exercise as a prevention method
• Conflict resolution

Please contact LaKeisha McCormick for more information.

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Workplace Drug Prevention

Where to Start with a Drug-Free Workplace
A comprehensive drug-free workplace program starts with policy:

• Policy explains a clear message that alcohol and/or drug use is prohibited in the workplace
• Policy protects the health and safety of employees, customers and the public
• Policy safeguards an employer's assets
• Policy protects trade secrets
• Policy helps a business maintain quality, integrity and its reputation

Creating a Drug-Free Workplace
Substance abuse in the workplace makes a significant impact on your employees' performance:

• Increase in the utilization of health benefits
• Tardiness
• High employee turnover
• Increased absenteeism

A Comprehensive Drug-Free Workplace Program
Consultation, Needs Assessment and Policy Development

• Creating a Drug-Free Workplace Policy
• Review Current Drug-Free Workplace Policy

Employee Education

• Chemical Dependency in the Family
• Drug-Free Workplace 101
• Drugs in the Workplace
• Drug Information & Categories
• The Disease Concept and the Drug-Free Addiction and Denial

Supervisor Education

• Signs and Symptoms
• How to Document/Implement a Drug-Free Workplace Policy

On-Site "Lunch and Learns"
One hour presentations during lunch
Let us help you create a drug-free workplace and explore ways to develop a corporate culture of wellness.

Call 704-375-DRUG (3784) ext. 10 or email us to schedule a workplace assessment or presentation.

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