Nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers is a major public health concern in the United States as evidenced by increasing numbers of emergency department visits, treatment admissions, and fatal overdoses. Understanding opioid misuse is key to its prevention. Presenters will share results from a series of SAMHSA studies on opioid prescribing and misuse that will highlight promising target areas for prevention efforts. Participants will have an opportunity to weigh in on an in-progress prevention toolkit based on results from these studies.

This session focuses on the development and results of 10 years of a Community Impact model of prevention that used Positive Community Norms interventions in communities across Minnesota that reduced underage alcohol use among junior and senior high school students.  Positive Community Norms increases healthy attitudes and behaviors by correcting misperceptions about the frequency with which the majority engage in risky or unwanted behaviors.