About the SAPST

WHAT IS THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION SKILLS TRAINING (SAPST)?

• • Foundational course of study in substance misuse prevention

  • Innovative training that blends a four-day, virtual component with homework and an interactive online unit

  • For entry-level prevention practitioners working in states, jurisdictions, tribes, and communities; also appropriate for professionals working in related fields

  • Grounded in current research and SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework

  • Provides knowledge and skills to implement effective, data-driven prevention programs, practices, and policies that reduce behavioral health disparities and improve wellness

WHAT DOES THE SAPST PREPARE PRACTIONERS TO DO?

• • Address substance misuse prevention in the context of behavioral health

  • Improve practice by developing a comprehensive approach to prevention guided by SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)

  • Reduce behavioral health disparities by identifying the needs of vulnerable populations and improving cultural competency

  • Sustain prevention by collaborating effectively across sectors to address shared risk and protective factors and improve the health and well-being of communities in a cohesive way

WHAT DOES THE SAPST COVER?

• • Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention: Understanding the Basics

(HealtheKnowledge Pre-SAPST online course)

• • • • Basic terminology and facts

      • History of substance use and prevention in the U.S.

      • Addiction and the brain

      • Effects and health risks of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

  • Setting the Foundation: From Theory to Practice (virtual)

    • • Behavioral health

      • Institute of Medicine’s Continuum of Care

      • Public health approach

      • Risk and protective factors

      • Developmental perspective

  • Application: SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (virtual)

    • • Assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation

      • Health disparities

      • Cultural competence, sustainability

ACRONYMS

• • SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

  • PTTC: Prevention Technology Transfer Center

  • ATTC: Addiction Technology Transfer Center

  • SPF: Strategic Prevention Framework

  • NPN: National Prevention Network

  • IC&RC: International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium

  • IOM: Institute of Medicine

  • COC: Continuum of Care

  • EBI: Evidence-based Intervention

  • CRN: Collegiate Recovery Networks