NOVA HELPS COMBAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse is a global problem best solved at a local level.
Reducing the availability of drugs and the number of drug abusers
demands community leadership. That requires information that provides
a solid foundation for action.

This is our mission at Nova Southeastern University's Center for the
Study and Prevention of Substance Abuse that, in partnership with the
United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse, is an
international model for community-based strategies to combat drugs and
alcohol abuse. NSU's resources enable the center to gather substance
abuse data from local contacts, such as the medical examiner, hospital
emergency rooms and addiction treatment clinics.

This tracking system helps identify emerging issues and at-risk
groups, information that's then disseminated to appropriate community
organizations. Our "information to action" process has resulted in
many changes, including contaminated drug health alerts.

NSU students use center information for research projects,
dissertations and practicums that can have enormous impact on our
community. For example, fourth-year medical and public health student
Justin Arnold conducted research on the "Demographic Patterns of
Overexposure to Over-the-Counter Analgesics." These findings can be
used to help educate the affected demographic groups. NSU fourth-year
medical and public health student Ezmina Lalani worked on the
evaluation of Broward County Court Judge Gisele Pollack's misdemeanor
drug court program for her research project. Lalani used center data
for research on the effectiveness of Judge Pollack's court in making a
difference for adults completing the program.

Nationally, our center responded to a specific White House request by
creating an NSU masters degree track for community coalition leaders
"" the only educational program of its kind in this country for those
who want to help lead this fight.

Closer to home, the community has worked to encourage the passage of
Florida legislation aimed at diminishing the abuse of prescription
drugs. Our state has been well behind and has become the prime
supplier of illegally diverted painkillers for the eastern United
States. Indeed, recent newspaper reports and center data indicate
Broward County is a main source of the powerful drug oxycodone in
illegal amounts. Working with law enforcement at all levels, the
center and United Way are developing plans that will shut down pill
mills.

What Broward County has shown is that, by turning our center's
information into action, community leaders can hammer out solutions
locally, one neighborhood at a time.