Capacity building occurs when communities aim to strengthen knowledge, abilities, and skills of individuals to improve organizational structures to better meet the needs of the community in a sustainable way. Capacity building can be leveraged to promote prevention and reduction of substance use at the individual, classroom, school, family, and community levels.
A southwest town was concerned about the number of middle and high schools flagged for drug use by law enforcement. A subcommittee on substance abuse and behavioral health issues began to re-evaluate their schools’ substance abuse prevention programming.
The committee found that programming was only offered in high school health classes, and it was not evidence-based. They worked with principals, health education staff, parents, and youth to select an evidence-based program that covered late elementary to high school, and trained all staff, parents, and some high school students to participate in implementation.
The committee also identified a number of social norms programs to change student perceptions on overall substance use among peers, and developed alternative activities and community programming for youth. Working together, the community built the capacity to reduce substance abuse among its adolescents.