Prevention Programs in South Carolina

Prevention

Prevention Programs

ALPHA Prevention Programs are designed to help citizens of all ages reduce the risks of substance use/misuse. Programs provide up to date facts and data on substance use/misuse trends, skill building for resiliency, and community partnerships.

Prevention Programs are categorized according to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Six Strategy Areas:

1 - Information Dissemination

Providing education information and prevention messages through community events, presentations, and media campaigns.

  • Presentation Topics include: character education, healthy decision making, prevent bullying, conflict resolution and anger management, stress management, alcohol and drug education.
  • Health Fairs/Local Events: opportunities for prevention staff to share with community educational resources
  • Media Campaigns: ALPHA raises awareness through prevention messages shared on social media channels, local newspapers, billboards, and other media platforms.

2 - Education

Evidence-based curriculums are utilized for K-12th grade to provide skills and knowledge.

  • Too Good for Drugs: provides 12 lessons from goal setting to substance use education
  • Prevention Plus Wellness: focuses on healthy decisions in a single session implementation

3 - Environmental Strategies

Partnering with Alcohol Enforcement Teams and law enforcement agencies to establish or change community standards, codes, and attitudes within the population. 

  • Alcohol & Tobacco Retail Compliance Checks: ensures compliance of checking IDs.
  • Safety Checkpoints: ensures public safety.
  • Saturation Patrols: enforcement strategy for impaired driving prevention.
  • SYNAR: statewide tobacco survey retail inspections.
  • Palmetto Retailers Education Program (PREP): Education to prevent underage sales.

4 - Community Collaboration

Services designed to buffer known risk factors and enhance protective factors in individuals, families and communities. Collaborating with local agencies and community organizations, resources can be used more efficiently and effectively to raise awareness about substance use/misuse and increase the number of people from the communities reached and served.

5 - Alternative Activities

Activities provided to target populations creating substances of misuse-free and positive environment along with activities that are constructive and create positive self-esteem for participants. Activities have changed from year to year to provide new experiences for participants and to reach different interests. ALPHA sponsors a free movie night open to the community. The movies are family and kid friendly. This event gives a safe place for a family fun activity.

6 - Problem Identification and Referral

Individuals having received citations or have had problems cited by others can receive services to help change behavior through education or identify the need for referral for other services or treatment.  

  • TEP – Tobacco Education Program provides an alternative to minors who face suspension for violation of school tobacco-use policy and/or charged with possession of tobacco.
  • AAP – Alcohol Awareness Program is diversion education to those who are completing requirements of Solicitor’s Office Alcohol Education Program (AEP) due to a minor in possession of alcohol citation.

Confidentiality & CARF Accredidation

All services are considered confidential and are protected by federal law (42 CFR Part 2) and the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.  Due to Confidentiality regulations, all individuals must sign a release of information regarding their protected health status.  Clients and parents of clients under age 16 will also be asked to sign an acknowledgement that says they have received the privacy notice.
ALPHA Behavioral Health Center is a CARF Accredited institution.

Resources & Support

Learn more about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through these informational fact sheets and resources. You will also find links to affiliated agencies and organizations for further information regarding substance use, mental health and behavioral health needs.

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