What’s the problem?

The National Institutes of Health says the economic cost for alcohol and illicit drug abuse in the United States exceeded $246 billion in 1992. According to Columbia University, substance abuse prevention makes financial sense; an investment in prevention can save money for communities by stopping substance use disorders before they start, which decreases the social and treatment costs associated with substance use and addiction. The average cost savings is $18.

The ASAP Center can help

The ASAP Center’s certified prevention professionals consult with community groups concerning ways they can heighten awareness and increase knowledge about substance abuse prevention. We assess the groups’ needs and connect the groups to state-of-the-art substance abuse education, prevention activities and early intervention programming. We also may give mini-grants to qualified groups to support initiation or improvement of prevention activities. Click here to view a list of ASAP Center grantees.

The ASAP Center consultants also:

• help individuals build skills and competencies in preventing substance abuse;
• distribute informational materials at no cost;
• provide on-going technical assistance and mentoring to support prevention activities; and
• assist in evaluating whether or not prevention efforts are working.

The ASAP Center works with nontraditional sources of prevention activities in a 20-county area of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. By working collaboratively with traditional sources of prevention – such as coalitions, prevention providers, resource centers, and other organizations – the ASAP Center helps community groups incorporate substance abuse prevention methods in normal activities. By increasing involvement in prevention activities, we can reduce the substance abuse problem in the Greater Cincinnati area.

ASAP Center Grants

The ASAP Center provides grants up to $5,000 non-traditional sources of prevention activities in the 20-county service area.  The grants are to help a new prevention effort begin or to add a new dimension to an existing prevention effort.

The first step in applying for an ASAP Center grant is a conversation with an ASAP Center prevention staff.  Topics will include:

• What is the problem or prevention opportunity your organization wants to address?
• What does your organization want to do to improve this situation?  What will be different as a result of this effort?
• How will you do it?
• How will you know that the change has happened?
• How would the grant be spent? 

Next steps

To learn more about how your group can help prevent substance abuse, browse through the sections listed on the navigation bar or contact the ASAP Center today at 513-458-6640 or toll-free at 888-310-4904. A consultant will meet with you to assess your group’s needs and help you decide what activities you’d like to begin.