Community Solutions for Substance Use Prevention: A Message from DCCCA

Every October, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month gives us a chance to talk openly about an issue that touches families across Kansas — and here in Douglas County, CASA sees its impact firsthand in the lives of the children and families we serve. Substance use disorder often intersects with the cases our volunteers advocate on, which is why prevention, education, and access to resources matter so much to our community. 

The following message was written by our partners at DCCCA, whose Community-Based Services team works year-round on substance use prevention, suicide prevention, mental health promotion, and traffic safety. Read on to learn more about the realities of substance use in Kansas and simple, concrete ways you can get involved.

DCCCA Community-Based Services focuses on community-driven solutions designed to create lasting impact and improve overall well-being. We have four core areas of focus – substance use prevention, suicide prevention, mental health promotion, and traffic safety. 

Substance use prevention is critical to ensuring the health and well-being of our state. Currently, 1 in 5 Kansans lives with a substance use disorder (SUD). Only a quarter of those individuals with a SUD receive treatment, and 95% of those with a diagnosed SUD do not perceive a need for care. Additionally, since 2019, there has been a 38% increase in the overdose death rate. 

DCCCA helps spread the word about prevention through a variety of resources and training, including medication lock bags and disposal bags, naloxone and fentanyl test strips, educational toolkits about substance misuse prevention strategies, and a variety of trainings focused on substance misuse prevention. 

Are you looking for ways to get involved? Here are some ideas!

• Clear out expired or unused medication in your home by dropping pills off at a disposal box location.
• Order a medication lock bag to safely store medications in your home or while traveling
• Be prepared to respond to an overdose by requesting a naloxone kit and participating in a free overdose prevention training.
• Sign up for a training to learn more about prevention.
• If you’re in the Douglas County area, connect with our local community coalition and follow us on Facebook or Instagram.