Adolescence is a critical high-risk period for the initiation of substance use.
ATLANTA, /PRNewswire/ -- Adolescence is a critical high-risk period for the initiation of substance use. According to studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research has shown that teens with substance use disorders experience higher rates of physical and mental illnesses, and diminished overall health and well-being. The Teens Linked to Care (TLC) program, which began in 2016, is a three-year project focused on integrating prevention strategies to address both substance use and sexual risk among youth in high-risk rural communities. In a new video released today, the CDC Foundation highlights the successes of the TLC program through its implementation in three pilot sites in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The goal of this TLC pilot project is to develop a framework for schools that can be replicated to address human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), pregnancy and high-risk substance use among youth through health education and ensuring safe and supportive school environments. The project was developed by CDC and CDC Foundation and implemented with support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to the CDC Foundation. “The CDC Foundation is proud to be a partner in the Teens Linked to Care program, and we are grateful to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for their incredible support over the past few years,” said Judith Monroe, MD, president and chief executive officer of the CDC Foundation. “It is our hope that the success of the TLC program can demonstrate that promoting prevention strategies to teens in their schools and communities can translate into a lifetime of healthy behaviors.” The three pilot sites of Scott County School District 1 (Austin, Indiana), The Brighton Center (Campbell County, Kentucky), and Portsmouth City Health Department (Portsmouth, Ohio) have successfully implemented and developed strategies in several key areas, including:
“We know that substance use during adolescence is related to a wide variety of negative health outcomes, including HIV and STDs. TLC provides us the opportunity to apply our approach to addressing sexual risk behaviors among adolescents to substance use prevention. We hope to replicate this approach in other schools and communities so that we can continue the work to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s youth,” said Kathleen Ethier, PhD, director of CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. Additional products that will provide tools and resources to assist communities wanting to replicate TLC’s school-centered approach will be made available. About the CDC Foundation The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the sole entity authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched approximately 1,000 programs and raised over $800 million. The CDC Foundation managed nearly 300 CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 130 countries last year. For more information, visit www.cdcfoundation.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
SOURCE CDC Foundation |