Guidance

TASK 2: Identify intervening variables

Intervening variables are factors that have been identified through research as helping to explain substance abuse—in this case, opioid misuse. They include risk factors that have been shown by research to predict opioid misuse, and protective factors that exert a positive influence or buffer against the negative influence of risks. These risk and protective factors can be found at different levels, such as individual, peer, family, and community.

Here is a resource on risk and protective factors for prescription drug misuse.

An annotated bibliography addressing risk and protective factors for unintentional fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose—originally designed for Massachusetts Collaborative for Action, Leadership, and Learning (MassCALL2) grantees is available here.

Risk and protective factors can be measured using both quantitative and qualitative data. After identifying and prioritizing the risk and protective factors in your community, you will select prevention strategies for addressing them, which is described in Step 3 of the SPF.

Tool
MOAPC Planning Tool