Resource Library

This resource presents findings from a systematic review of the recent literature examining associations between scare tactics, fear-based messages, and substance misuse. Informed by this research, this brief addresses three main questions: (1) What are scare tactics and fear-based messages, and how have they changed over time?; (2) Are these types of messages effective?; and (3) What are the implications of these approaches for prevention?

Recent legislation in Massachusetts requires that parents of middle and high school athletes and other adults such as coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, and school nurses receive educational materials on the potential dangers of opioid use and misuse. The educational materials shall also be distributed in written form to all students participating in an extracurricular athletic activity prior to the commencement of their athletic seasons.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Massachusetts Technical Assistance Partnership for Prevention (MassTAPP) collaborated to provide action steps to help prevent opioid misuse and overdose among student athletes. This packet also highlights resources for addressing possible alcohol or opioid misuse or addiction.

Information on advocacy principles, advocacy research, providing education, direct action campaigns, media advocacy, and responding to opposition.

This resource provides an overview of some common barriers to obtaining archival data, and strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, codeine, and methadone. In response to the increasing number of opioid-related fatal overdoses in Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health is sponsoring a pilot program that is distributing intra-nasal naloxone (Narcan©), along with opioid overdose prevention education, to opioid users and to trusted people in their lives such as family, friends, and staff of human services programs. Emergency responders including paramedics and emergency room physicians have been using naloxone since the 1970's to revive people who are experiencing an opioid overdose. Many programs nationally, and now here in Massachusetts have been making this life-saving medication available to people who are most likely to witness an overdose.

This guidance document is a resource for municipalities, individuals, organizations, community coalitions, and other groups who are implementing efforts to prevent prescription drug misuse and abuse among high school aged youth, including those whose efforts are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS), and more specifically, grantees of the Partnership For Success 2015 cohort.

This publication provides an overview of the steps associated with engaging in community mobilizing to implement environmental strategies with a particular emphasis on adopting alcohol, tobacco, and drug (ATD) policies at the community level.

This guide provides guidance for developing a logic model specific to the PFS grant, a logic model examples, as well as a logic model template.

This primer provides clear guidelines for assisting your coalition to develop the products that you need to carry out a comprehensive community plan to reduce substance abuse rates. It also helps you understand the dynamic planning process needed for coalition work.

Learn about the potential challenges to obtaining useful epidemiological and other data during prevention planning.

Cocaine use in the United States has begun to rise in the past few years, and indicators suggest it will continue to rise, at greater levels, in the coming years. This issue brief is designed to help prevention practitioners better understand and prevent this growing problem.

Provides an overview of how ACES impact health and opportunity what can be done to prevent them.

This issues brief is designed to help substance abuse prevention practitioners better understand and prevent the growing problem of heroin use. Specifically, it provides: an overview of recent trends in heroin use and related consequences; information on national, state and local data sources for heroin-related indicators; an inventory of research-based risk and protective factors associated with heroin use; and evidence-based strategies for preventing heroin use.

This decision-support tool offers a comprehensive listing of available data resources and surveys developed by and for a range of federal agencies and that collect data on marijuana use and its consequences.

Presents a list of 16 key data sources for prescription opioids and heroin to inform assessment and planning efforts.